The cricket maestro, AB de Villiers, embarked on his IPL journey with the Delhi Daredevils in 2008, later forming an iconic partnership with Virat Kohli at Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, a pivotal moment in his IPL narrative unfolded in 2010 when he unexpectedly found himself released from the Delhi squad.
In a recent revelation on his YouTube channel, de Villiers disclosed the unsettling moment when Delhi officials assured him of his retention for the 2011 season, only to discover his release before the auction.
Reflecting on the lack of effective communication, de Villiers expressed his surprise and discomfort with the situation.
“When I played in the 2010 season, I got called into the office and was told ‘you are going to get retained, young AB de Villiers’. I sat alongside David Warner in that meeting. It came as a huge surprise to me a week or two later when I realised I had been released. So the communication wasn’t great back in the day, that must be different these days but it’s not a nice feeling,” De Villiers said on his YouTube channel.
Fortunately, the IPL auction proved to be a turning point in his career. Royal Challengers Bangalore secured de Villiers for INR 5 crore in 2011, reshaping the trajectory of his cricketing journey. Over 11 seasons with RCB, he left an indelible mark in IPL history, delivering memorable performances and cementing his status as one of the tournament’s legends.
AB de Villiers’ transformation from uncertainty in 2010 to IPL stardom with RCB serves as a testament to the unpredictability and resilience inherent in the world of cricket.
