AB De Villiers Retires “From All Cricket”

South African cricketer AB de Villiers took to Twitter today to announce his retirement “from all cricket”. He stated at the age of 37, the “flame no longer burns so brightly”. De Villiers is one of the best batters of his generation and he last played a Test against Australia in Johannesburg in 2018.

De Villiers announced his retirement through a series of tweets. “It has been an incredible journey, but I have decided to retire from all cricket. Ever since the backyard matches with my older brothers, I have played the game with pure enjoyment and unbridled enthusiasm. Now, at the age of 37, that flame no longer burns so brightly,” the South African said.

“That’s the reality I must accept – and, even if it may seem sudden, that is why I am making this announcement today. I’ve had my time. Cricket has been exceptionally kind to me. Cricket has been exceptionally kind to me. Whether playing for the Titans, or the Proteas, or RCB, or around the world, the game has given me unimagined experiences and opportunities, and I will always be grateful.”

“Last, I am aware that nothing would have been possible without the sacrifices made by my family – my parents, my brothers, my wife Danielle and my children. I look forward to the next chapter of our lives when I can truly put them first. I would like to thank every teammate, every opponent, every coach, every physio and every staff member who has travelled the same path, and I am humbled by the support I have received in South Africa, in India, wherever I have played,” said the de Villiers.

Nevertheless, de Villiers continued to showcase his talent in the Indian Premier League with the Royal Challengers Bangalore. He also shares a good rapport with Indian captain Virat Kohli, both on and off the field. He played 15 matches in IPL 2021, scoring 313 runs at an average of 31.30. Now that he decided to retire from “all cricket”, it means De Villiers is ending his IPL career with over 5,000 runs in the tournament.