South Africa’s star wicket-keeper batsman AB De Villiers has revealed that he wasn’t hundred percent fit to play in a T20 campaign and ruled himself out for the remainder of the Titans’ group stage matches this season after joining his first net practice on Tuesday.
“I wanted to play on Wednesday night to get a bit of game time… But the surgeon said three months, not two months, so I’ve been a bit naughty,” AB De Villiers said.
De Villiers got an elbow blow during his stint in Caribbean Premier League for the Barbados Tridents in July this year.
“I’ve tried to push it hard to get back on the park. Hopefully, I’ll make the Test matches but we’ll see what happens in a week’s time. We’ll assess it as we go on but things change all the time.” De Villiers added.
Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn also wished to see Ab De Villiers back as a captain once he’s fit.
“I think so, he is the captain. He is definitely the captain,” Steyn said.
Steyn stressed that AB de Villiers should be South Africa’s permanent Test captain, after meeting convener of selectors Linda Zondi.
“I know Faf has done really well for us right now, but AB is the captain. He has earned that spot. He has played for a long time, and he said he wants to do it and he got the opportunity to. Unfortunately, he got injured, but he is the man at the end of the day.” Steyn added.
He has not played since New Zealand Test series in August after undergoing an elbow surgery.
In February, the 32-year-old was named Test captain when Hashim Amla stepped down mid-way against England in a home series.
Before the first Test against Sri Lanka which is scheduled from December 26, De Villiers was expected to get much-needed practice in a domestic league before being the part of Boxing Day Test which seems a big question mark.