Former South African and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) player AB de Villiers clarified that he won’t be involved in any capacity during the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
While he expressed interest in a future role with RCB, he currently doesn’t feel prepared for it. Having represented RCB between 2011 and 2021, de Villiers retired from all cricket.
The ex-Proteas captain ranks as the second-highest run-scorer for the Bangalore team. In 157 matches, he scored 4522 runs at an average of 41.10 and a strike rate of 158.33, including two centuries and 37 half-centuries.
RCB recently announced Andy Flower as their new head coach. A report on Cricbuzz suggested that there could be a chance for De Villiers to work alongside Flower as a mentor.
However, De Villiers contradicted this possibility himself. He provided clarification during a discussion on his YouTube channel:
“I’ve not been in discussions with anyone whatsoever. The interest is there, I am just not ready yet and that’s from my heart.”
“I am an RCB boy; I am not ready to join in any team environment yet. I’ve recently retired. Even though it’s quite a long time now, but it’s still recent in my mind.”
Currently, his main focus does not involve pursuing a coaching or mentoring position in the sport, as stated by the 39-year-old.
“The thought of me getting on a team bus in the near future, staying the team hotel, I have done that for most of my life. I had a 20-year-old career where that’s all that mattered.”
“For now, it’s just different priorities for me. I am trying to get away from that team bus for a little bit and do my own thing for a year or two,” De Villiers elaborated.
De Villiers surprised everyone by retiring from international cricket in 2018, citing exhaustion and burnout as the reasons. Nevertheless, he carried on playing for RCB in the IPL.
“The passion for cricket still remains.”- De Villiers
Although the South African icon didn’t give a precise timeframe for when he intends to rejoin a cricket team, he emphasized that his affection for the game remains unwavering.
“Who knows how long it might take – maybe its five years, maybe I’ll be ready in two years. But there’s no doubt the love for cricket is still there.”
“It’s burning very strong and I will be joining the IPL in some sort of role in the near future.”
“RCB will always be very close to my heart. I’ll always be grateful for the support and the love that I did receive. I will always miss it,” De Villiers stated.
In the overall context, De Villiers holds the sixth position among the top run-scorers in the IPL. In 184 matches, he scored 5162 runs at an average of 39.70 and a strike rate of 151.68, with three centuries and 40 half-centuries.
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