Batting legend AB de Villiers on Wednesday (July 1) admitted that South Africa's ouster from the 2015 ODI World Cup in the semi-final hit him hard and he was left dejected for at least a year following the loss.

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In a rain-marred game at Eden Park, New Zealand had defeated South Africa by four wickets while chasing down the revised target of 298 with one ball to spare.

After the heartbreaking defeat, Proteas cricketers including De Villiers were spotted shedding tears in the field while Kiwi players were seen consoling them.

"We got close. I am specifically very proud of the way we played in 2015 (World Cup) and certainly rocking up on that evening in Eden Park, playing some of the best cricket of the tournament, we were so close. I am proud of our performances looking back," De Villiers, the skipper during that World Cup, told Harsha Bhogle on 'Cricbuzz in Conversation'.

"The next 12 months was really tough for me. Maybe I should've been more honest about it when I look back and communicated about it. I felt like I was a little bit alone at the time but it's silly to say that you're alone if you don't seek help, if you don't talk about it.

"If I could have it over again, I would probably open up discussions with the coach, administrators and discuss my way forward. I should've shared my emotions with them and things that bothered me. I didn't.

"That really wore me down a touch but I kept playing, I tried to bite the bullet, I tried to be there. I was batting really well. I still had incredible friendships and memories," he added.

Despite being at the peak of his powers, De Villiers called time on his international career in 2018 at the age of 34. He conceded that the loss against New Zealand played a part in his unexpected retirement.

"From a personal point of view, yeah it played a huge role," he said. "We got beaten by sport on the night and it was actually a beautiful thing but it was difficult for me to get through that year and to specifically meet up with the team again a few months later, having to go again. Here we go again, we have to restart but I am like hold on, I am not over this World Cup.

"It hurt too much. So yes, I am sensitive and those kinds of things play a huge role in how I feel and my ambitions."

De Villiers was one of the top performers at the 2015 Cricket World Cup, scoring 482 runs at an average of 96 and strike rate of 144.