Article:
Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers, known for his explosive batting skills, recently expressed his desire to compete with Indian cricketers Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli if he decides to make a comeback to the sport. De Villiers, who retired from international cricket in 2021, wants to reclaim his position as one of the best in the game.
During his 15-year international career, AB de Villiers was recognized as one of the finest cricketers of his generation. He was named the ICC ODI Player of the Year three times and was also honored as one of the five Wisden cricketers of the decade in 2019. Known for his aggressive style, de Villiers amassed over 8,000 runs in Test matches, including 22 centuries and 46 fifties.
De Villiers holds several impressive records in One Day Internationals (ODIs), including the fastest 50 (16 balls), 100 (31 balls), and 150 (64 balls) by any batsman. He also holds the records for the fastest hundred by a South African in Tests and the fastest 50 by a South African in T20Is.
In a recent interview with Jio Cinema, AB de Villiers spoke about his potential comeback to cricket. He stated, Definitely. I could still play. But the drive is not there anymore. It’s always just about being the best. I want to be the best if I come back and I’ll want to compete with Surya and Kohli…
De Villiers acknowledged that he didn’t play enough cricket toward the end of his career, which affected his performance. He expressed his belief that the newly introduced concept of Impact Players, who only participate in specific tournaments, wouldn’t work for him. He stressed that to be the best, he needed to be consistently involved in the game throughout the year, rather than playing sporadically.
The former South African cricketer also mentioned that he struggled with finding motivation when his desire to be the best in the world began to fade. He realized that occasional outstanding performances were not enough to satisfy his hunger for greatness. De Villiers emphasized the importance of regular competition and stated, Absolutely no chance. Yes. You can practice for nine months. But nothing, nothing compares middle practice with being out there and competition.
AB de Villiers’ statement about competing with Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli showcases his ambition to be at the top of his game if he decides to return to cricket. However, he admitted that the fire to be the best has diminished, and he is currently enjoying life away from professional cricket.
Fans can only hope that AB de Villiers will reconsider his retirement and grace the cricket field once again, entertaining the world with his extraordinary skills and passion for the game. Until then, cricket enthusiasts can reminisce about the remarkable records and thrilling performances of one of the true greats of the sport.
