Having retired from competitive cricket this year after a glorious career, South African great AB de Villiers wishes to give something back to the game and believes he definitely has a role to play in the future with the national team and the Royal Challengers Bangalore set-up in Indian Premier League.
De Villiers, who had retired from international cricket in early 2018, called it quits from competitive cricket entirely in November soon after finishing his IPL 2021 commitments with the Royal Challengers.
Nobody can doubt De Villiers’ cricketing credentials. Inarguably one of the best cricketers to have ever graced the sport, De Villiers played 114 Tests, 228 ODIs and 78 T20Is. He scored over 20,000 international runs and represented the Proteas for 14 years, including stints as captain of the national side.
“I still believe that I have a role to play in SA cricket and also over there in the IPL with the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
I have no idea what will come next but I will take it one day at a time and see.”
De Villiers was quoted as saying by Times LIVE.
The 37-year-old modern-day giant also revealed that he has been unofficially mentoring some young, aspiring talents “with potential and ability” over the last few years.
“No one knows about it and hopefully I can look back one day in the future knowing that I have made a big difference in the lives of a few players,”
he added, saying he isn’t sure whether he’ll become a professional mentor or coach but is enjoying playing his part in some youngsters’ journey.
De Villiers began the first half of the IPL 2021 in typically scintillating fashion with the bat before slowing down by his standards in the second half of the competition played in UAE. After making 207 runs from his six innings in India at a strike-rate of 164.28, he could muster only 106 runs in the United Arabic Emirates from his eight innings at 124.70.
De Villiers feels it was a case of the pandemic and bubble fatigue finally taking its toll on him and his game, calling the entire phase “very challenging” as he had to navigate through travel restrictions, health regulations and manage family life while also having to take care of his on-field performances.
