(Cricket News) In a recent revelation, cricketing legend Ab de Villiers opened up about the genuine reason behind his retirement, disclosing that he navigated the final two years of his illustrious career with a detached retina. Providing insight into the severity of the condition, he shared the astonishment of his surgeon, recounting, “When I got the surgery done, the doctor actually asked me, ‘How in the world did you play cricket like this?’ Fortunately, my left eye managed to perform decently in the final two years of my career,” conveying this information to Wisden Cricket.
With an extraordinary international cricket career that boasts 114 Tests, 228 ODIs, and 78 T20Is for South Africa, de Villiers shed light on the significant role that the COVID-19 pandemic played in his decision not to reconsider his international retirement. Acknowledging the influence of the pandemic, he stated, “Covid certainly played a role; there’s no doubt about it.”
Reflecting on a poignant chapter in his cricketing journey, de Villiers delved into the emotional aftermath of the 2015 World Cup semifinal loss. Admitting the profound impact it had on him, he shared, “From an international perspective, that 2015 World Cup hurt big time. It took me a while to get over that, and then, when I got back into the side and was ready to commit, I didn’t feel the same culture that I really needed at that time.”
Contemplating the potential conclusion of his illustrious career, de Villiers revealed his internal struggle, stating, “I often found myself thinking, I don’t know, eh? Could this be the end of my career? I didn’t even really want to play IPL or anything else.” Taking a hiatus in 2018, he made a final push with a particular focus on Test cricket, aspiring to achieve success against formidable opponents like India and Australia. De Villiers aimed for a quiet exit, away from the spotlight, expressing, “I just wanted to say, ‘I had a great time, thank you very much.'”
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