Anil Kumble, Dean Jones Shocked by AB de Villiers' Retirement

The cricketing world would never expect how the day was it going to be when the sun rose on Wednesday (May 23).

The day was going as usual before a video flashed on Twitter from South Africa. What went after that left the entire cricketing world shell-shocked?

South Africa star, AB de Villiers, one of the most celebrated cricketers of modern-day game, announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect.

The 34-year old said he was tired and wanted to step out while still at the top. He confirmed in the video on he had played his last game for South Africa.

“After 114 Test matches, 228 one day internationals and 78 T20 internationals it is time for others to take over. I’ve had my turn and to be honest I’m tired,” he said.

“This is a tough decision, I have thought long and hard about it, and I’d like to retire while still playing decent cricket. After the fantastic (test) series wins against India and Australia, now feels like the right time to step aside.

“It would not be right for me to pick and choose where, when and in what format I play for the Proteas. For me, in the green and gold, it must be everything or nothing,” he added.

In his glorious career that spanned for 14 years, de Villiers scored a staggering 20,014 international runs (8765 in Tests, 9577 in ODIs and 1672 in T20Is). He also finished his career with a batting average over 50 in both Tests, and ODIs.

The right-hander also holds the record for the fastest 50, fastest 100 and fastest 150 in ODIs, all coming against the Windies. He smashed a 31-ball 100 in Johannesburg in 2015 and hit a 66-ball 162 in the 2015 World Cup encounter in Sydney.

Well, it is safe to say the cricketing world is yet to come to term with the news. Just like the millions of fans, some cricket stars were left shell-shocked with the news.

Speaking about this shocking decision on the sidelines of Star Sports‘ ‘The Dugout’, former cricketers and panellists, Anil Kumble, Scott Styris and Dean Jones said the de Villiers’ timing is surprising considering the 2019 World Cup being so near.

“It’s a personal decision, and I can’t really talk about his decision. You want AB de Villiers to be playing international cricket. It’s a great loss for international cricket. It’s not just the skills that he brings as a batsman. Even as a fielder or a person he inspires a lot of young cricketers to take up the game,” Kumble said.

“And we’ve seen that. Not just in South Africa but also in Bangalore. He plays for RCB. He is loved, it is his own personal call. I don’t know how his body is holding up, that determines how far you can go,” he added.

De Villiers recently impressed in the Indian Premier League. He scored 480 runs including six half-centuries from 12 matches. But despite showing no signs of slowing down with the bat, he hung up his boot.

His presence would have been immense for South Africa in the 2019 World Cup, and Kumble and Jones think the Proteas will suffer without their talisman.

“The World Cup was just around the corner, and that was a big blow for South Africa if you ask me. Their chances of doing well at the World Cup was depended heavily on ABD. Now that he is not there, it is going to be tough for SA to recover from someone of the quality of ABD,” said Kumble.

Jones also echoed Kumble’s sentiments.

“I am surprised, to be honest. Because they haven’t won one and I think they need him to win one. They are the worst team with all due respect to South Africans and they are worst off with his retirement. To lose a player like him, he is Mr. 360, and he hits it all it all over the place. Classic, stylish player and yet he came up with all different stuff. He played one of the best knocks I’ve ever seen, that 170 against West Indies in Sydney,” said a surprised Jones.

On the other hand, Styris feels it was a long time coming. The New Zealander added AB was mentally tired and it was going to happen sooner rather than later.

At the same time, the former Kiwi all-rounder said he expected him to stick around till the next World Cup.

“It has got nothing to with fitness. It is when you had enough. We had the same thing and Brendon McCullum, many people thought he could have carried on for three-four years. McCullum in his last Test innings got a 100 off 50 balls, the fastest hundred in Test history against Australia that was his last Test match and yet he was retiring.

“So in many ways, the same thing. But it’s not about their skills are still there. We know ABs skills are still there, fitness is as fit as anyone. It’s about mentally you want to do it and still go through all the work to keep up and at some stage, it catches up to everybody. Honestly, at this point, it has caught up to AB,” said Styris.

“By virtue of the facts that he has taken breaks already in the last couple of years, you see it coming. I’m like Deano, I thought it would be after the World Cup but the surprise has come now but the writing was on the wall,” he added.