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South African legend, AB de Villiers, who is fondly called as 'ABD' and ‘Mr 360’ hinted on his potential return to the cricketing field. Known for his innovative batting and match-winning performances, AB de Villiers teased a potential comeback, however he ruled out the possibility in playing the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is one of the top T20 leagues around the world.
De Villiers notably retired from international cricket in 2018, however, he continued to play franchise cricket as he was seen donning the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) jersey till 2021. But years after his retirement, the veteran batter has now hinted that the world might not have seen his last and there is still some cricket left in him.
I might still play cricket: AB de Villiers teases potential comeback; rules out playing IPL
Speaking in an interview with journalist Melinda Farrell, AB de Villiers said, “I might still play cricket one day,” teasing his potential return. “No confirmation whatsoever, but I’m starting to feel it. My kids are putting me under a bit of pressure, and 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,” the legend added.
Watch video of AB de Villiers hinting at his return to cricket:
The South African legend also reflected on the idea of rediscovering his game, primarily inspired by his children as he said, “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 (right eye) 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.”
Recalling his admiration for Imran Tahir, de Villiers continued, “I’ll maybe ask him to be in my team wherever I go. Just remember this: he’s one of my favourite 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.”
It is to be noted that the Protean legend retired in 2018, having played 114 Tests, 228 ODIs and 78 T20Is. During his playing days, he broke several records, including the fastest fifty and 150 in ODIs.