Former South African captain and legendary batsman AB de Villiers, popularly known as ‘Mr 360’ in the world of cricket, has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. Earlier, AB de Villiers had announced his retirement from international cricket in 2018, but he continued to play international cricket. De Villiers, on the other hand, has played 114 Tests, 228 ODIs, and 78 T20I matches for South Africa. below is AB de Villiers short speech transcript.
AB de Villiers short speech
Today, I’m going to be making a big announcement, a very emotional announcement: that I’m finished with all formats and all cricket, all around. I do have a smile on my face because I feel I am making the right decision, but obviously, deep in my heart, I’m incredibly sad.
There are lots of emotions and thoughts going through my mind, of all the years of playing cricket. There are lots of mixed emotions. Things happened very quickly in the last month or so. It’s been on my mind for quite a bit. I finally just made the decision that it’s time for me to really, truthfully prioritize family time and to be just really the best version of myself as much as I can at home.
To all the people in Bangalore, all the people around the world who have followed me, who have supported my RCB team, and any other team that I represented over the years: thank you very much for that. I mean, it’s difficult to put into words what the fans around the world and supporters of cricket, and of my cricket specifically, have meant to me – it has been life-changing. And to each and every person, whether you have criticized me or just loved everything that I have done throughout my career – thank you very much.
No, I’m not going to go anywhere and I am going to be an RCB-ian for life. Every single person in the RCB set-up has become family to me. I mean we all have spent a lot of time together, some people come and some go, but that RCB franchise and the spirit and the love that we have for each other will always remain.
“It has been an incredible journey but I have decided to give up all forms of cricket,” AB de Villiers wrote on social networking site Twitter.
“I have played with pure pleasure and unbridled enthusiasm, now at the age of 37, that flame does not burn so fast,” he said.
I have an incredible time over there. Also, I know we haven’t won a trophy, but I truly believe there are plenty more to come in the future. Hopefully, I have played my role with Virat and some of the other players who have played a huge role in getting our culture set for the future – maybe that has played its role for us to win many trophies in the future. And hopefully I will be part of some of that, we’ll see what happens.
But, yes, RCB has changed my life. I think I have become half Indian over the years and I am very proud of that. I absolutely have loved every single second of my journey and I have fallen in love with India as well. That’s never going to change – the day I’m not here on the earth anymore I will be half-Indian, half-South African.
