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When asked about this issue in a recent podcast, he said in his witty style that he would be nervous about such a big commitment at this age. The former Proteas captain jokingly denied comparisons with MS Dhoni and said that the former Indian captain always worked harder than him. He said that IPL is a three-month-long tournament, and it is not easy to prepare yourself for it at the age of 41.
De Villiers said that he currently considers himself a better supporter, who feels more comfortable sitting in the stadium and applauding. He said that he tried to give his best in his career, and now he wants to live that passion calmly. The former RCB man clearly admitted that it is not fair to compare Dhoni and his journey because every player's journey is different, and his body and mental state are also different.
Seeing his rhythm and batting in the World Championship of Legends, the hope was raised again that maybe he would decide to take the field for RCB one last time. The craze of the fans can be gauged from the fact that in Northampton, in the United Kingdom, he also saw RCB supporters wrapped in red who were shouting loud chants. De Villiers said that RCB are a team that people like all over the world, and he was very happy to see that that love remains intact even on the soil of England.
The relationship between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and AB de Villiers has always been special. Even though RCB has never won a trophy before 2025, the partnership of De Villiers and Virat Kohli gave the team a cultural identity. After RCB became IPL champions for the first time this year, De Villiers expressed his happiness on social media and said that he had been hoping to see this moment for years. This is the reason why whenever there is talk of his return, the name of RCB automatically comes up.
Despite the light-hearted tone of his words in the podcast, it is clear that he is very serious about his decision. The former Proteas batter knows that playing in a three-month-long tournament requires preparation not only physically but also mentally. He also added that he has worked hard and with dedication in his career and now he feels satisfied with that period.
This is not the first time that De Villiers has been asked questions about his comeback. There was also talk in 2022 that he could return to the T20 World Cup for South Africa, but at that time, too, he ended the talk by saying that he had taken a well-thought-out decision to retire. However, there have been many such examples in cricket history where players suddenly returned to the field while returning to the nets. For example, players like Imran Khan, Shahid Afridi, and Brett Lee have also made a comeback. Therefore, the door of hope is never considered completely closed.
Virat Kohli and De Villiers' friendship and on-field chemistry are liked all over the world. Kohli has said many times in old interviews that RCB feels incomplete on the field without De Villiers. This relationship has also settled in the minds of the fans. Fans constantly tag him on social media and say that they want to see him in the red and gold jersey one last time.
For now, it seems that De Villiers may be seen in some other role with RCB. He did commentary in some matches last season and did not rule out the possibility of joining RCB as a mentor or batting consultant. If this happens, his fans will get to see the former RCB player in a different avatar. He believes that sharing experiences is also a part of the game, and he can try his hand at it.
MS Dhoni still plays for Chennai Super Kings and made a significant contribution with the bat last season as well. Even at this age, his fitness and match-reading ability on the field surprise people. This is the reason why whenever it comes to the return of a retired legend, Dhoni's example is put forward. De Villiers very politely distanced himself from this comparison, saying that every player has his own timeline and he decides it.
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As for the future, if the RCB management talks to him about a specific, smaller role—like an Impact Player or Anchor Role—then it is possible that this path will be discussed. It does not require playing the entire tournament, but rather taking the field under certain conditions. However, neither the team management nor De Villiers have spoken openly on this subject yet.
It is pleasant for a player to see people chanting his name even after retirement. But this love can turn into pressure at times, especially when the same question is asked repeatedly. It seems that De Villiers wants to avoid this pressure and prefers to live life on his own terms.
"I'll be too nervous. I think I'll 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.
Everyone loves RCB. We had a ground called Northampton, County Cricket Club, and as I arrived, there were a lot of RCB fans. I immediately picked up the chants. It was very cool to hear that again. Obviously, RCB are the current champions of the IPL finally, for the first time, I am very happy to say that. It's great to hear the chants even here in the United Kingdom."
For now, De Villiers has kept the possibility of his comeback hanging in the balance between joke and sincerity. He did not explicitly say that he would never return, but he did say that his priorities have changed. For him, family, peace and the experience of watching cricket from the eyes of a spectator are no less exciting.
As long as he keeps making a blast with his brilliant bat every now and then in some Legends tournament, the fans will remain connected to this thread of hope. After all, anything is possible in cricket. Until he himself is ready from the heart, perhaps the line he said seems the most appropriate - "I am a very good supporter and want to remain the same at this time."
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