Happy to Step Away, Absolutely No Regrets – AB de Villiers After Calling it Day
Aug 15, 2018 at 5:44 PM
Former South African talisman batsman AB de Villiers is happy to step away from the game. The Proteas linchpin who had sent shocking waves with his surprising retirement has absolutely no regrets after calling it a day.
AB de Villiers said that the expectations on his shoulders as an International player were enormous. In fact, AB de Villiers was still going strong at the topmost level. Thus, everyone expected him to play till the next World Cup in 2019.
However, AB de Villiers had other plans as he bid adieu to the game on May 23. The South African superstar admitted that he was tired to continue playing the game.
“It’s been unbearable at times: the pressure you have to face, performing day in and day out. The expectations that you put on yourself, from fans, from the country, from coaches. It is huge, and it’s something that’s on your mind all the time as a cricketer. And it’s definitely something that I’m not going to miss. I’m very happy to have stepped away. Absolutely no regrets,” he told The Independent.
Meanwhile, AB de Villiers had earlier stated that winning a World Cup trophy will not define his career. Thus, AB de Villiers said that he was ready to take on the pressure.
“I was prepared to embrace it, to fight the pressure,” he added. “And I’m happy that I did. But it certainly takes his toll after a while. I feel there is room for players to be more honest about it, having systems in place to make sure they keep fresh and mentally healthy. I was certainly not mentally ill at the time. But I can relate to the fact that pressure can really drive you down, and make you so tired.”
Furthermore, de Villiers will continue to play in the different T20 leagues across the globe. The talisman said that he will continue to ply on his trade but on his terms.
“I’m still going to play for a few years; I’ll still play a little bit around the world. But on my own terms,” he assured.
AB de Villiers will definitely go down as a modern day great. The swashbuckling right-hander scored 20,014 international runs (8765 in Tests, 9577 in ODIs and 1672 in T20Is).