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Virat, Anushka & Others Bid Emotional Adieu To AB De Villiers As He Announces Retirement

byLoveleen Kaur
20th November 2021
3 minute read

Former South African captain Abraham De Villiers gave a massive shock to cricket fans after he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket yesterday. During his illustrious cricketing career of 17 years, the versatile cricketer who started his international career as a wicket-keeper-batsman, played around 114 Tests, 228 ODIs, and 78 T20Is.

 

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A post shared by AB de Villiers (@abdevilliers17)

However, after ruling the sport, the 37-year-old decided to hang his boots. Taking to social media, Villiers shared an emotional note announcing his retirement.

He wrote:

It has been an incredible journey, but I have decided to retire from all cricket.

Ever since the back yard matches with my older brothers, I have played the game with pure enjoyment and unbridled enthusiasm. Now, at the age of 37, that flame no longer burns so brightly. That’s the reality I must accept – and, even if it may seem sudden, that is why I am making this announcement today. I’ve had my time.

Cricket has been exceptionally kind to me. Whether playing for the Titans, or the Proteas, or RCB, or around the world, the game has given me unimagined experiences and opportunities, and I will always be grateful.

I would like to thank every teammate, every opponent, every coach, every physio and every staff member who has travelled the same path, and I am humbled by the support I have received in South Africa, in India, wherever I have played.

Last, I am aware that nothing would have been possible without the sacrifices made by my family – my parents, my brothers, my wife Danielle and my children. I look forward to the next chapter of our lives when I can truly put them first.

 

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A post shared by AB de Villiers (@abdevilliers17)

Through a video, posted on Royal challengers Bangalore’s page, he made the emotional announcement, reported NDTV.

“I am finished with all formats and all cricket all around. I do have a smile on my face. I feel like I am making the right decision and obviously deep in my heart I am incredibly sad. There are lots of emotions and thoughts going through my mind of all the years of playing cricket. There is a lot of mixed emotions.”

Stating that he wanted to spend more time with family, she said, “Things happened very quickly in the last month or so. It’s been in my mind for quite a bit and I finally just made the decision to really, truthfully priorities family time and to be just the best version of myself as much as I can here at home. To all the people in Bangalore and all the people around the world who followed me and supported me with my RCB team and in the other teams that I represented, Thank you very much for that.”

All of his fans, friends, and the entire cricket fraternity were taken by surprise. Sharing a picture with him, Indian skipper Virat Kohli wrote that he will miss playing for RCB alongside his ‘brother.’

 

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A post shared by Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli)

Calling his retirement ‘heartbreaking’, Anushka Sharma also penned an emotional note:

Apart from them, several of his friends from the fraternity and his fans alike bid him an emotional adieu.

Back in 2018, the international player retired from international cricket. We wish we could see you more on the ground. Thanks for making the game worth watching.

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