Former South African cricket icon AB de Villiers is set to return to the sport this July, marking his first competitive appearance since retiring from all formats of cricket four years ago. Widely celebrated as one of the most innovative and dynamic batters in cricket history, de Villiers initially stepped away from international cricket in 2018 and later retired from all forms of the game in 2021.
Now 40, de Villiers revealed that his passion for cricket has been reignited, thanks to his young sons’ growing interest in the sport. “I retired because I no longer felt the drive to play, but over time, my sons started playing, and we’ve been having more cricket sessions in the garden. It feels like a flame has been rekindled,” de Villiers shared.
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The former captain confirmed that he will be returning to lead the South Africa Champions in the upcoming World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025. The tournament, which brings together retired and non-contracted cricketers, is a T20 event where players represent their national teams. This will be the second edition of the WCL, with the Indian team, captained by Yuvraj Singh, having won the inaugural tournament in 2024.
De Villiers’ last appearance in competitive cricket was in the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL), where he played for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Fans eagerly await his return, as he heads back to training to prepare for his much-anticipated comeback in July.
