In a revealing revelation that has surprised cricket enthusiasts, AB de Villiers, the iconic South African cricketer, has disclosed the hidden challenges and physical setbacks that led to his early retirement from international cricket in 2018.
De Villiers, often hailed as a generational talent, played a stellar role in South Africa’s cricket history, featuring in 114 Tests, 228 ODIs, and 78 T20Is from 2004 to 2018.
The cricket legend, who also captained the South African team, highlighted the emotional toll of the heartbreaking loss in the 2015 World Cup semi-final to New Zealand as a significant factor that influenced his decision to step away from international cricket. The aftermath of the defeat and the subsequent attempt to make a comeback for the 2019 World Cup were clouded by a perceived lack of the team culture he sought.
However, more than two years after his last professional match at the 2021 IPL, de Villiers has unveiled a surprising facet of his retirement.
In an interview with Wisden Cricket Monthly, he disclosed an eye injury that had gone unnoticed—a detached retina suffered when his youngster accidentally kicked him in the eye with his heel. The severity of the injury became apparent when he began losing vision in his right eye.
Despite this vision impairment, de Villiers remarkably continued playing cricket for two years, a testament to his extraordinary skill. Following surgery, the doctor expressed astonishment, asking, “How in the world did you play cricket like this?” Fortunately, his left eye compensated, allowing him to contribute meaningfully to the game until his retirement.
AB De Villiers said, "I played the last two years of my career with a detached retina. The doctors asked me how in the world did I play cricket like this". (Wisden). pic.twitter.com/Os4K0wGVFx
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 7, 2023
De Villiers acknowledged that COVID-19 played a role in his decision not to reverse his retirement. Reflecting on his attempted return, he expressed disappointment in not finding the team culture he needed at the time. This revelation sheds light on the complex emotional and physical factors that contributed to the cricket legend’s departure from the international stage.
In his own words, de Villiers shared, “I often found myself thinking, I don’t know, eh? Could this be the end of my career?” Despite the challenges, he pushed for one more stint in Test cricket, aiming to conclude his illustrious career on a high note without the glare of the spotlight.
