In a surprising revelation, ex South Africa cricket star AB de Villiers has hinted at the possibility of a return to the cricket field. However, lovers Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Indian Premier League (IPL) will be disappointed as De Villiers has specifically ruled out a return to the IPL or professional cricket. The legendary batsman, who retired from international cricket in 2018 and last played for RCB in the 2021 IPL season, shared his thoughts during a recent conversation.
No IPL, no RCB: AB de Villiers prefers a casual approach
De Villiers hinted at his possible return to casual cricket, influenced by the encouragement of his children. He mentioned that he feels motivated to visit the nets with them and perhaps play informal games for enjoyment, while ruling out a return to professional cricket, including the IPL with RCB or international tours with South Africa.
“Maybe I will play cricket one day after all. No confirmation, but I’m starting to feel it. My kids put me under a bit of pressure and I feel like I could network with them. if I enjoy it, maybe I’ll go out and go and play casual cricket somewhere again, not professional IPL stuff or SA tours,“, said De Villiers in an interview with journalist Melinda Farrell as quoted by the Times of India.
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“We are not talking about RCB”
When asked about the similarities regarding his potential return with his former teammate Imran Tahirwho plays franchise cricket after retirement, De Villiers expressed his admiration for his teammates and hinted at an occasional partnership. He joked that he included Tahira in his team, calling him one of his favorite players, but clarified that it was not serious.
The Proteas star made a point of avoiding the pressure of professional cricket, including RCB or international matches, and instead focusing on playing purely for fun.
“I might ask him to be on my team wherever I go. Just remember this: he is one of my favorite players. Nothing serious though. We are not talking about RCB and big things. Yeah, I don’t want to feel that pressure again. That’s the thing. So wherever I go, I’ll have some fun,“, he added.
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