AB de Villiers, known as ‘Mr. 360’ for his remarkable ability to hit the ball to all parts of the ground against any bowler, remains one of the most iconic cricketers to emerge from South Africa.
De Villiers made his international debut in 2004 at the age of 20 against England. Although his early years were inconsistent, he soon established himself as a regular in South Africa’s One Day International (ODI) and Test teams. His breakthrough came in the 2011 World Cup, where he became the first South African to score two consecutive centuries in the tournament. Despite the Proteas being eliminated in the quarter-finals, de Villiers had hit his stride, and over the next few years, he dominated both the ODI and Test rankings. Between 2012 and 2015, he was widely regarded as one of the best players in the world.
In 2017, de Villiers stepped down from captaining South Africa’s limited-overs teams, with Faf du Plessis taking over the role. A year later, in May 2018, de Villiers broke the hearts of many South African cricket fans by announcing his retirement from all forms of international cricket, though he continued to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for several more seasons. He eventually retired from all forms of cricket in November 2021.
Earlier this year, de Villiers revealed that one of the key reasons behind his early retirement from international cricket was a detached retina, which affected him during his final years in the sport. He also mentioned that the aftermath of the 2015 World Cup defeat and changes in the team’s culture contributed to his decision.
Since retiring, de Villiers has remained involved in cricket, working as a commentator and brand ambassador. He launched his own YouTube channel, “ABD360,” where he interviews current and former cricketers. In December 2023, he was named the brand ambassador for SA20, South Africa’s premier T20 cricket league.
