AB de Villiers To Return To RCB For IPL 2024? South Africa Stars Delivers Final Verdict
Published - 18 Aug 2023, 02:11 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:17 AM
Former South Africa and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star AB de Villiers has confirmed his fate for next year’s IPL. Speculations are rife that the batting great might join the Bengaluru-based outfit as a mentor ahead of IPL 2024.
AB de Villiers shares a strong bond with RCB. The former South Africa captain started his journey in IPL with Delhi Capitals (formerly Delhi Daredevils) before signing up for RCB in 2011. He played for the franchise for more than a decade before bringing down the curtains on his illustrious IPL career after the 14th season in 2021.
The sudden retirement took many by surprise as the fans urged the star batsman to come out of retirement for IPL 2022. AB de Villiers, however, made it clear that his decision to retire was final and that he would not take any U-turn. And recently reports emerged that the former Proteas star could join the RCB franchise as a part of its backroom staff for IPL 2024.
AB de Villers on IPL 2024:
While speculations are rife that AB de Villiers might return to the RCB dugout once again, the South African legend has rubbished all the reports by clarifying that he won’t be returning next year. AB de Villiers has said that he won’t be associated with RCB in any capacity during IPL 2024. At the same time, he did not rule out the possibility of taking up any role at the franchise in the future.
“I’ve not been in discussions with anyone whatsoever. The interest is there, I am just not ready yet and that’s from my heart. I am an RCB boy; I am not ready to join in any team environment yet. I’ve recently retired. Even though it’s quite a long time now, but it’s still recent in my mind,” said AB de Villiers in a video posted on his YouTube channel
“The thought of me getting on a team bus in the near future, staying the team hotel, I have done that for most of my life. I had a 20-year-old career where that’s all that mattered. For now, it’s just different priorities for me. I am trying to get away from that team bus for a little bit and do my own thing for a year or two,” he added.
AB de Villiers retired from IPL as one of the all-time greats. He played 157 matches for RCB and scored 4522 runs at a strike rate of almost 160. He is RCB’s second-highest run-scorer of all time behind Virat Kohli.