In a series of recent interviews, former South African cricketing legend AB de Villiers has provided fascinating insights into his career, his relationships with Indian cricket icons, and his personal life post-retirement. His comments, coming after a brilliant performance in the World Championship of Legends, have put to rest any speculation of a return to professional cricket.
AB de Villiers jokes about MS Dhoni regarding the IPL return
Despite showcasing his timeless class by dominating the WCL 2025, De Villiers has firmly closed the door on a potential Indian Premier League (IPL) comeback. Speaking on a podcast, the 41-year-old explained that while he’s still fit and active, the physical and mental commitment required for a three-month tournament is a major factor in his decision.
In a moment of classic wit and good-natured rivalry, de Villiers made a cheeky comparison between himself and MS Dhoni, who continues to play in the IPL. He then added that he has immense respect for players like Dhoni but that they are all different, and he is happy with the decision he made to retire. His comments highlight the immense pressure and dedication required to compete at the highest level, even for legends of the game.
“I’ll be too nervous. I think I’ll rather just support. I’m a very good supporter. The IPL is just very long and it is a three-month tournament. It’s a really big commitment for someone at the age of 41. You can’t compare me to Dhoni. I work a lot harder. I had a lot more hard work through the years. I’m just kidding. I’ll take my hat to them. But we’re all different. It depends. I gave it my best shot and I’m happy,” De Villiers said on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast.
“Dont compare me with him i work a lot more harder” 😭pic.twitter.com/CyKsvHqPwU https://t.co/ndm3rpzFQ0
— Advit’ (@Advitxvirat) August 3, 2025
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Tournament-winning performances for South Africa Champions in WCL 2025
De Villiers was the undisputed star of the WCL 2025, finishing as the leading run-scorer with 429 runs in six matches, including three centuries. His performances were characterized by explosive hitting and a high strike rate of over 200, proving he has lost none of his ‘360-degree’ batting ability. De Villiers was rightly named the Player of the Tournament for his efforts.
In the final against Pakistan Champions, he played a match-winning innings of an unbeaten 129 off just 60 balls to guide his team to a nine-wicket victory. This knock, which included 12 fours and 7 sixes, secured his third century of the tournament. His dominance was so complete that he was awarded the Player of the Match, Master Blaster of the Match, Most Valuable Player, and Game Changer of the Match in the final.
Throughout the WCL 2025, de Villiers was a consistent force. He scored back-to-back centuries in the group stage, including a blistering 123 off 46 balls against Australia Champions and an unbeaten 116 against England Champions. Beyond his batting heroics, de Villiers also made a significant impact in the field. In the semi-final against Australia Champions, he was instrumental in a thrilling one-run victory, first with a stunning diving catch to dismiss Chris Lynn and then with a decisive last-ball run-out to seal the win.