AB de Villiers announces return to cricket 4 years after his last competitive game, all set to play for THIS team

Four years after making his final competitive appearance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2021, renowned former South African cricket captain AB de Villiers has announced his intentions to return to the game. The right-handed batter has stated that he will play for South Africa in the 2025 World Championship of Legends (WCL), which is scheduled for July, after first teasing a comeback.

After an incredible career that included 114 Test matches, 228 ODIs, and 78 T20Is between 2004 and 2018, De Villiers announced his retirement from international cricket in 2018. He kept showcasing his abilities in the IPL until 2021, even after leaving the international scene.

Reflecting on his return, de Villiers said, "Four years ago, I retired from all cricket because I just didn't feel the urge to play any more. Well, time has passed, and my young sons have started playing the game. We've been playing more and more often in the garden, and, well, it feels as though some kind of flame has been lit again," as quoted from a release by WCL.

"So I am heading back to the gym and the nets, and I'll be ready for WCL in July," he added.

The wait is over! 
WCL is overjoyed to announce that the legend himself, @ABdeVilliers17 , is joining the @WCLSAChampions this year! 

This moment is nothing short of magical—heartwarming, emotional, and an inspiration to us all. Seeing Mr. 360 return to the field reminds us… pic.twitter.com/mtL6fH9OXf

— World Championship Of Legends (@WclLeague) January 28, 2025

Known as Mr. 360, AB de Villiers has made a significant impact on the cricketing world with his creative batting style. His knack for seamlessly executing both classic and unconventional shots has won him fans across the globe. In a stunning exhibition of skill, De Villiers set the record for the fastest century in ODI cricket, reaching this milestone in just 31 balls against the West Indies in Johannesburg in 2015.

In that unforgettable match, De Villiers scored an incredible 149 runs off just 44 balls, hitting a remarkable 16 sixes and tying the record for the most sixes in a single ODI innings. Before he hit his century, he had already made headlines by scoring the fastest half-century in an ODI, achieving it in a mere 16 balls.

De Villiers amassed 22 Test and 25 ODI hundreds throughout his incredible 14-year career. The tournament's founder, Harshit Tomar, expressed his delight and desire for cricket fans in England to witness De Villiers' performance after hearing that he will be playing in the upcoming competition.

"This is precisely why we launched the WCL - to bring back the legends we deeply miss. As a fan of AB de Villiers, I'm thrilled to see him return to the field. I'm sure cricket lovers in England and beyond will be delighted by his comeback."

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