Cricketers and fans share their wishes and reactions on AB de Villiers’s retirement

It has been an incredible journey for AB de Villiers who decided to retire from all cricket. ABD tweeted o that ever since the backyard matches with his older brothers, he has played the game with pure enjoyment and unbridled enthusiasm. At the age of 37, the cricketer says that the flame no longer burns so brightly.

This is the reality that all cricketers accept and even if it may seem sudden, that is why he made an announcement yesterday that it is his time now. Cricket has been exceptionally kind to me– the South African cricketer said.

He made his international debut in 2004, AB de Villiers represented South Africa in 114 Tests, 228 ODIs, and 78 T20Is. He amassed 20014 runs, averaging more than 50 in both Tests and ODIs. In the captaincy of de Villiers, South Africa made it to the semi-finals of the ICC World Cup 2015 in Australia but lost in a thriller to New Zealand. Several personal accolades were achieved throughout his illustrious career, de Villiers holds the joint record for the most ICC Men’s ODI Player of the Year awards won. He won it thrice and is now tied with Virat Kohli.

He played 15 matches in IPL, scoring 313 runs at an average of 31.30. His decision to retire from all cricket also means that the South African veteran will end his IPL career with over 5,000 runs in the tournament. With a strike rate of 151.68, he is among the top 20 run-getters in the tournament.