New Delhi: South African batting maestro Abraham Benjamin de Villiers, who announced his retirement from international cricket in 2021, has recently hinted at the possibility of a comeback. In a candid interview, he expressed his desire to return to the sport with the intention of reclaiming his status as the best player while competing against the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli.
During his illustrious international career, de Villiers established himself as one of the most exceptional batsmen in the game. He received the prestigious ICC ODI Player of the Year award on three occasions and was named one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Decade at the end of 2019. Known for his right-handed batting prowess, de Villiers amassed over 8,000 runs in Test matches, including 22 centuries and 46 fifties.
The South African cricketer holds several remarkable records, including the fastest 50 (16 balls), 100 (13 balls), and 150 (64 balls) in one-day internationals, surpassing all other batsmen in history. Additionally, he also holds the distinction of scoring the fastest hundred by a South African in Test matches and the fastest fifty by a South African in T20 cricket.
In a recent interview with Jio Cinema, de Villiers candidly expressed his thoughts on a potential return to the sport. He stated, “Definitely, I could still play. But the drive is not there anymore. It’s always just about being the best. I want to be the best if I come back, and I’ll want to compete with Surya and Kohli.”
He further explained his mindset, acknowledging that the absence of a burning desire to be the best in the world had made him question his motivations in recent years. Reflecting on his decision to retire, de Villiers revealed that he didn’t want to continue merely producing exceptional innings. Instead, he yearned to consistently strive for greatness and reclaim his position among the elite.
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