After bidding farewell to international cricket in 2018, AB de Villiers, the esteemed South African cricketer, has recently opened up about the unexpected reasons behind his decision to retire from the pinnacle of the sport at the age of 34. At the time of this announcement, De Villiers was actively representing the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in May 2018.
In a startling revelation, De Villiers disclosed that he had played his final years of international cricket with a detached retina, a condition resulting from an accidental kick to his eye by his kid. The impact led to a significant loss of vision in his right eye. Reflecting on this challenging period, De Villiers shared, “When I got the surgery done, the doctor was astonished, asking me, ‘How in the world did you play cricket like this?’. Fortunately, my left eye compensated adequately for the last two years of my career.”
The cricketing icon further revealed that during the two years leading up to his comprehensive retirement from all forms of the game, including the IPL, he was unaware of the detached retina. Elaborating on his decision-making process, De Villiers acknowledged the role of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lingering impact of the 2015 World Cup on his psyche.
“Covid certainly played a role, there’s no doubt about it. From an international perspective, the 2015 World Cup hurt big time. It took me a while to get over that, and then, when I got back into the side and I was ready to commit, I didn’t feel the same culture that I needed at that time,” he explained.
Expressing his internal struggles, De Villiers admitted to contemplating the potential end of his illustrious career. He revealed a period of uncertainty where he questioned his desire to participate in the IPL or any other cricketing endeavors. In 2018, he decided to distance himself from the cricketing scene and made a final push, primarily in Test cricket, aiming to overcome challenges against teams like India and Australia. His goal was to conclude his career quietly, away from the spotlight, with a simple acknowledgment of gratitude for the incredible journey.
In essence, AB de Villiers’ retirement, shaped by physical challenges and personal reflections, adds a poignant layer to the narrative of his remarkable cricketing career.
Image Credit: abdevilliers17/Instagram
