Former South Africa captain, AB de Villiers announced his retirement from all forms of cricket through social media. De Villiers announced his retirement on Friday, November 19, bringing an end to a phenomenal 18-years journey.
AB de Villiers made his international debut in 2004 and has since featured 114 Tests, 228 ODIs, and 78 T20Is representing South Africa. He scored 20014 runs across all forms, averaging moreover 50 in both Tests and ODIs. He announced his retirement from international cricket in May 2018.
“It has been an incredible journey, but I have decided to retire from all cricket,” ABD wrote on Twitter. “Ever since the back yard 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.
“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“, tweets AB de Villiers.
South Africa advanced to the semi-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia but were defeated in a nail-biter against New Zealand.
Among many personal achievements he has received over his brilliant career, de Villiers owns the joint record for the most ICC Men’s ODI Player of the Year awards. He won it 3 times, in 2010, 2014, and 2015, and is now tied alongside Virat Kohli.
Last year, he was recognized for both the Sir Garfield Sobers Award for Male Cricketer of the Decade and the Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade at the ICC Awards of the Decade.
He most recently played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League in 2021. He had a fruitful T20 record, appearing in 340 games and amassing 9424 runs with a strike rate of 150.13.
