The Legendary Cricketer AB De Villiers Will be Back Around IPL

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AB de Villiers, the legendary cricketer, reported that he will “certainly” return to the IPL next year as part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad. However, he cannot say for sure in what capacity.

De Villiers had been an integral part of the RCB family before he retired from all types of cricket last year.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is one of three former Indian Premier League (IPL) teams that doesn’t have a win to its name. Meanwhile, it has had a mixed start to IPL 2022, even though it is missing icon AB de Villiers, who announced his departure from professional cricket last year.

He began his IPL career with the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), where he spent three seasons.

Royal Challengers Bangalore recruited de Villiers in 2011, and he went on to become one of the best players for the Bengaluru based club. He spent a total of 11 seasons with RCB.

During his amazing career with RCB, de Villiers appeared in 156 IPL matches and amassed an astounding 4,491 runs, including two hundred and 37 fifties. He was inducted into the RCB Hall of Fame recently.

Virat Kohli, another legendary name in cricket and also de Villiers’ former skipper and teammate, had earlier this month expressed his hope that the South African great will be back at the RCB in a new role next year. “I miss him a lot,” he said. “I speak to him regularly, he keeps texting me.”

de Villiers was glad that Virat confirmed it. “To be honest, we haven’t decided on anything yet. I will definitely be around the IPL next year. I am not sure in what capacity, though. I am missing getting back there,” De Villiers told VUSport.

“I have heard a little bird tweeting, saying that there might be some games in Bangalore.” de Villiers said that he would love to return to Bangalore, calling the city his second hometown. He wishes to see the Chinnaswamy stadium at full capacity again. “I would love to return; I am looking forward to it.”

de Villiers has scored 5162 runs, including three hundreds and 40 fifties, at an average of 39.71 for RCB.