Retired in 2018, AB de Villiers now frees himself of all franchise commitments | Cricket News – Times of India

Among the most feared and respected cricketers of his generation, de Villiers delighted his fans in Bengaluru -who would slip into delirium at the briefest glimpse of their star on the giant screen – since 2011, coming in from the Delhi franchise at a price of Rs 5 crore.
He has also represented Barbados Tridents, Brisbane Heat, Lahore Qalandars, Middlesex, Rangpur Riders, Titans and Tshwane Spartans in the shortest format of the game.

De Villiers captivated audiences with his unadulterated flair and shots which unquestionably had the ‘ABD signature’ on them. When he strode out to bat, it was often with the intent to own the stage and decimate the opposition. A standout exponent of the sport, an artist with a gamut of shots in his repertoire and a powerful striker of the ball, he fittingly earned himself the tag ‘Mr. 360’.
The retirement of the superstar batsman signals the end of an era, especially in the IPL. Turning out for just two franchises since the inaugural edition in 2008, de Villiers featured in 184 matches, scoring 5,162 runs which included three centuries and 40 half-centuries. The bulk of those runs came in RCB colours (4,522 runs in 154 matches).

With Virat Kohli having relinquished the RCB captaincy at the end of the 2021 season, there were expectations that de Villiers would step in. That hope has been extinguished now.
In the decade de Villiers spent with RCB, he built a cult following. It was hard not to be in awe of him; his ability to improvise, his consistency, an affable personality and ample displays of sportsmanship endeared him to young and old alike.

Never shying away from responsibility, he wore many hats for the Bengaluru franchise, pulling off each task with commitment and conviction. Be it as a stand-in skipper, a floater in the batting line-up, an accomplished wicketkeeper or an exceptional all-round fielder, his contribution to RCB is unparalleled.
Announcing his decision, de Villiers said in a statement, “It has been an incredible journey, but I have decided to retire from all cricket. Ever since the backyard matches with my older brothers, I have played the game with pure enjoyment and unbridled enthusiasm. Now, at the age of 37, that flame no longer burns so brightly.”

On his stint with RCB, he remarked, “I have had a long and fruitful time playing for RCB. Eleven years have just whizzed by and leaving the boys is extremely bittersweet. Of course, arriving at this decision took a lot of time, but after a lot of contemplation, I’ve decided to hang up my boots and spend quality time with my family.”
Thanking the team management and Kohli, he added, “I’m going to be an RCBian for life. Every single person in the RCB set-up has become family to me. People come and go, but the spirit and the love we have for each other at RCB will always remain. I’ve become half Indian now and I’m proud of that.”

He might consider himself half Indian but to the residents of the Garden City, he is full Bengalurean. It was in the fitness of things that he played his 100th Test match in 2015 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
As de Villiers walks away into the sunset, his fans are pinning their hopes on his return in a new avatar to the franchise that he leaves with just one blemish -not having inspired them to an IPL title.