Faf du Plessis resigned as captain of South Africa earlier this year.
"I love captaincy; it's a part of who I am." In saying so, Faf du Plessis made clear how much it still pains him to have let go off the leadership badge in South African cricket earlier this year.
Du Plessis resigned as captain across formats, realising his form doesn't any longer make him a guaranteed pick for South Africa.
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"I've captained in all formats since the age of 13. I've always looked at myself as a leader before a player. I enjoy that more than anything else, so I will always miss it," he said emotionally in an audio file released of him by Cricket South Africa (CSA)
However, Du Plessis understands he still has a major role to play for the Proteas, guiding young Quinton de Kock, the new captain in ODIs and T20Is, as well as the next individual who takes over in Test matches.
"The time is right for me to move on to a position of growing other leaders, something I feel is lacking in our system," he said, also signalling towards Proteas' off-field issues. "I want to make sure I can help guys have someone there who guides them and is there, if they want their help, just to talk to in the team."
"Every time someone else takes they have to find their own way. My purpose for the next year is to get stuck in and grow guys and share the experience that I've gained."
From the outside, especially during that England Test series where he couldn't buy a run, the pressure on Du Plessis was very evident.
He was thankfully given a break after the last Test in Jo'burg by his friend and now director of cricket, Graeme Smith, to reflect upon his future.
"The pressure really started pointing towards me. A lot of energy was pushed towards me. I felt that I had been fighting the good fight for the Proteas. I gave it my absolute everything," he said.
"After the Test series [against England, which ended in January] I went away and reflected, and I thought that was the right time for it. The biggest reason was that I felt the new coaching staff (led by head coach Mark Boucher) could start the journey with someone new. I have a lot of value to add to that, but now's the time to fast-track that process."
"That's why I took the decision to step away. I still see myself adding huge value. Not at any stage did I decide I wanted to go and sign deals overseas. I'm still hugely motivated to play for the Proteas in all three formats," Du Plessis added.
(Inputs from Cricbuzz)