Former South African cricket captain AB de Villiers has officially announced his return to the sport, marking his first appearance since retiring from all forms of cricket four years ago. De Villiers, celebrated as one of the most versatile and dynamic batters in cricket history, retired from international cricket in 2018 and hung up his boots from franchise cricket in 2021.
The 40-year-old cricket star revealed that his rekindled passion for the game stems from playing cricket with his young sons, who have developed an interest in the sport. “I retired because the urge to play just wasn’t there anymore,” de Villiers said. “But time has passed, and now playing in the garden with my sons has reignited that old flame.”
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De Villiers will make his competitive return in July 2025, where he will captain the South Africa Champions in the World Championship of Legends (WCL), a global T20 tournament that features retired and non-contracted cricketers. “I’m back in the gym and at the nets to prepare for WCL, and I’ll be ready,” he said, confirming his participation.
The WCL, which debuted in 2024, brings together cricketing legends from across the globe to represent their countries once again. The 2024 edition saw the Indian team, led by Yuvraj Singh, take the trophy, and anticipation is already building for de Villiers’ return to the field in 2025.
De Villiers’ last competitive appearance was in the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL), where he played for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
