By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former Proteas captain AB de Villiers will make a return to cricket in 2025 after four years on the sidelines.
De Villiers will captain the Game Changers South Africa Champions in the second edition of the World Championship of Legends (WCL).
This top-tier T20 tournament, which showcases retired and non-contracted cricket legends, promises to deliver a nostalgic yet exhilarating experience for fans globally.
Reflecting on his return, de Villiers said, “Four years ago, I retired from all cricket because I just didn’t feel the urge to play any more. Well, time has passed, and my young sons have started playing the game. We’ve been playing more and more often in the garden, and, well, it feels as though some kind of flame has been lit again,” as quoted from a release by WCL.
“So I am heading back to the gym and the nets, and I’ll be ready for WCL in July,” he added.
De Villiers’ comeback has ignited excitement within the cricketing fraternity. The Game Changers squad, which featured legends such as Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Dale Steyn, and Imran Tahir in the inaugural season, now has an even brighter future under de Villiers’ captaincy.
Amandeep Singh , Co-Owner of South Africa Champions & Founder of Game Changers shared his excitement:
“We are honoured to compete in the World Championship of Legends and showcase the incredible talent of our cricketing greats. AB de Villiers’ return as our captain is a monumental boost for our team, and his leadership will undoubtedly inspire us to new heights,” Singh said.
Harshit Tomar, Founder and CEO of the World Championship of Legends, expressed his enthusiasm, “This is precisely why we launched the WCL – to bring back the legends we deeply miss. As a fan of AB de Villiers, I’m thrilled to see him return to the field. I’m sure cricket lovers in England and beyond will be delighted by his comeback.”
The right-handed batter had a stellar career for South Africa, amassing more than 20000 runs across all formats in international cricket. De Villiers ended his career with an average of over 50 in Tests and ODIs. In IPL, the genius batter slammed 5162 runs @ 39.70 and a strike rate of 151.68, studded with three centuries and 40 fifties.