AB de Villiers retired from international cricket in 2018 and all cricket in 2021.
During an interview with journalist Melinda Farrell, legendary South African cricketer AB de Villiers has hinted at the possibility of a return from retirement. One of the most feared cricketers of his day, de Villiers played 114 Tests, 228 ODIs, and 78 T20Is, breaking multiple marks, including the fastest fifty, century, and 150 in ODI cricket.
He scored 8765, 9577, and 1672 runs respectively with a total of 47 centuries to his name. His best score in ODIs was 176 and in Tests, he made 278* and in T20Is he made 79*.
He also played 184 IPL matches for Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru from 2008-2021. He made 5162 runs at a strike rate of 151.68 and made 3 centuries and 40 fifties, with a best score of 133*.
He called his time in international cricket in 2018 and then quit IPL and T20 cricket in 2021. De Villiers was known for his creative stroke play and ability to overpower bowlers on any given day. His latest words have sparked optimism among admirers wanting to see the South African maestro perform again.
"I might still play cricket one day. No confirmation whatsoever, but I’m starting to feel it. My kids are putting me under a bit of pressure, and I feel like I could go to the nets with them. If I enjoy it, maybe I'll walk out and go and play a little bit of casual cricket somewhere again and not professional IPL stuff or SA tours,” AB de Villiers told Melinda Farrell.
De Villiers reflected on the idea of rediscovering his love for the game in a stress-free environment, primarily inspired by his children.
“Who knows? But we'll see. I'm gonna try it again and see if this eye is still working. It's a bit blurry, but this (the right one) is the dominant one, and it's working fine. So, I'm doing it for my kids and see if I can go out there and enjoy cricket again,” he said.
When asked about role models like 45-year-old Imran Tahir still actively playing, de Villiers expressed admiration.
“I'll maybe ask him to be in my team wherever I go. Just remember this: he's one of my favorite players. Nothing serious, though. We're not talking about RCB and big stuff. Yes, I don't want to feel that pressure again. That's the thing. So, wherever I go, I'll have a bit of fun,” he said.