Why ab de villiers retired
Cricketing great AB de Villiers took the world by storm in May 2018 when he announced his retirement from international cricket. The South African cricketer, who was often referred to as Mr.360 due to his ability to hit the ball in any direction, had an astonishing career spanning over a decade.
About AB de Villiers
Considered one of the best batsmen of his generation, De Villiers represented the South African national team with pride and enthusiasm. His impressive career began in December 2004 against England. Since then, he appeared for South Africa in almost every format making noteworthy contributions to the team’s success. In fact, he still holds several records like fastest 50, 100 and 150 runs in One-Day Internationals (ODIs).
De Villiers’ skills were not restricted to batting alone; he was equally renowned for his fielding efforts. An agile athlete, he always displayed tremendous energy on field and aced many unique catches during matches. However, it wasn’t just his prowess as a player that won hearts worldwide but also his extraordinary sportsmanship.
The Surprise Announcement
On 23rd May 2018, De Villiers released a video message on Twitter announcing his retirement. The decision came as a shocker to most fans considering his good performance throughout the previous season. More so because De Villiers was only 34 at the time – relatively young by sporting standards.
In the video, De Villiers mentioned how after playing cricket for more than two decades – starting right from school till representing his country internationally- he is “tired”. This unprecedented announcement shocked millions of fans who loved watching him play and admired him greatly. Suddenly everyone was asking: Why did AB de Villiers retire?
Full Video in Youtube
Motivated Reason Behind Retirement
For those wondering why did AB De Villiers retire, De Villiers himself stated that he was actually “running out of steam”. He felt that playing for the South African team requires a significant amount of energy and motivation. After over two decades in cricket, the sportsman confessed to feeling drained both mentally and physically.
Moreover, international cricketers face immense pressure to constantly perform at their peak, while balancing domestic life with relentless touring schedules can be challenging. These reasons possibly played a crucial role in AB’s decision too.
Post Retirement Scenario: Return To International Cricket?
Since his retirement from international cricket, AB de Villiers has continued to play club cricket across several T20 leagues such as the IPL (Indian Premier League) and BBL (Big Bash League). His performance in these leagues confirmed that he still possesses enough skill and tenacity to compete at the highest level.
However, speculations were ripe about De Villiers’ potential return to international cricket ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 but it never materialised. Recently, he put an end to all these rumors after confirming that he will not be returning.
A Fresh Perspective
Retirement is often perceived as an end but for De Villiers it could have been the beginning of a new chapter – one where he had more time for his family and other interests outside cricket without feeling divided. The South African superstar’s retirement serves as a reminder that even legends need a break; they are humans dealing with pressure and exhaustion just like anybody else.
In conclusion, irrespective of the circumstances surrounding De Villiers’ retirement, there’s no denying the fact that he gave cricket some of its finest moments. His impact on the sport will remain cemented in history forever.
