In a surprising revelation, already South Africa a cricketer AB de Villiers has spoken about the possibility of returning to the cricket field. However, fans of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Indian Premier League (IPL) will be disappointed as De Villiers has categorically denied that he will not return to IPL or professional cricket. The legendary batsman, who retired from international cricket in 2018 and played for RCB for the last time in the 2021 IPL season, shared his thoughts in a recent interview.
No IPL, no RCB: AB de Villiers prefers the conventional approach
De Villiers also hinted at a return to mainstream cricket, citing the encouragement of his children. He said he is interested in touring the nets and playing casual games for fun while ruling out a return to professional cricket, including the IPL with RCB or international tours with South Africa.
“I might play cricket one day. There's no guarantee, but I'm starting to feel it. My kids push me a little, and I feel like I can take them to the net. if I enjoy it, I'll probably go out and play ordinary cricket somewhere other than IPL or SA Tours,” De Villiers said in an interview with journalist Melinda Farrell as reported by Times of India.
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“We are not talking about RCB”
When asked about his similarities to his former partner Imran Tahirwho has been playing cricket since retirement, De Villiers was impressed with his teammates and suggested a common bond. He joked about including Tahir in his team, calling him one of his favorite players, but explained that it was not difficult.
The Proteas all-rounder insisted on avoiding professional cricket matches, including RCB or international matches, instead focusing on playing for fun.
“I will probably ask him to be on my team wherever I go. Just remember this: he's one of my favorite players. However, nothing major. We are not talking about RCB and big things. Yes, I don't want to feel this pressure anymore. That's his thing. Therefore, wherever I go, I am happy,” he added.