Former Proteas captain AB de Villiers will make a return to cricket in 2025 after four years on the sidelines.
Image: PUNIT PARANJPE / AFP
One of South Africa’s all-time great cricketers AB de Villiers is set for a comeback after nearly four years on the sidelines.
“Mr 360” as De Villiers is affectionately known, retired from international cricket in 2018. At the time he said physical demands of playing at the highest level and a desire to spend more time with his family were some of the reasons that influenced his decision.
In 2024, De Villiers was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame after scoring 19,864 runs in Tests, ODIs and T20Is for South Africa.
The former Proteas captain played exclusively in the Indian Premier League for the Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2018, but retired from all forms of cricket in 2021, bringing to an end a remarkable career.
But De Villiers has announced his comeback to the game and will lead the Game Changers South Africa Champions in the second edition of the World Championship of Legends (WCL).
This WCL T20 tournament, featuring retired and non-contracted cricket legends, rolling back the years and providing that nostalgia to cricket lovers around the world.
De Villiers, who turns 41 years old on February 17, says the cricket bug bit him again after playing the game with his young sons in the garden.
"Four years ago, I retired from all cricket because I just didn’t feel the urge to play any more. Well, time has passed, and my young sons have started playing the game. We’ve been playing more and more often in the garden, and, well, it feels as though some kind of flame has been lit again,” De Villiers said in a statement.
“So I am heading back to the gym and the nets, and I’ll be ready for the WCL in July.”
The SA squad, which featured legends such as Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Dale Steyn, and Imran Tahir in the inaugural season, will now boast De Villiers’ explosive batting and innovative captaincy.
Amandeep Singh, co-owner of South Africa Champions and Founder of Game Changers shared his excitement after De Villiers’ decision to come out of retirement.
"We are honoured to compete in the World Championship of Legends and showcase the incredible talent of our cricketing greats. AB de Villiers’ return as our captain is a monumental boost for our team, and his leadership will undoubtedly inspire us to new heights.”
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