AB de Villiers to return to Bangalore team for Indian T20 League 2023?

AB de Villiers was synonymous with the Bangalore team in the Indian T20 League from 2011 to 2021. During his stint, the team’s fans loved him immensely. A while after the 2021 season, the former South Africa skipper decided to retire from all forms of the game. The right-hander had already retired from international cricket in 2018. Meanwhile, the Pretoria player has confirmed that he will join the Bangalore franchise but not as a player.

During an interaction, he apologized to the Bangalore fans for not being able to win the title. He also mentioned his recent eye surgery which is why he won’t be able to return to competitive cricket. The 37-year-old added that he won’t be taking up coaching anytime soon as he wants to spend some time with his family.

“I will go to Chinnaswamy Stadium next year. But not for playing cricket. I am going to apologize to the RCB fans for not winning the IPL title so far. I also want to thank them for their support over the past decade. I can’t play cricket anymore. Because I had surgery on my right eye,” De Villiers said during a social media interaction.

“I am definitely not planning to coach a team. I absolutely love to share everything that I have learnt, that will come. But I am not going to be joining a team, coaching and travelling the world again. I am very happy to spend a bit of time at home after travelling for 18 years,” he added.

I would rather not play with one eye: AB De Villiers

The former wicketkeeper batter revealed that he was invited for the ongoing second season of the Legends League Cricket 2022. De Villiers said that the fans might prefer him to play in the league but his eye operation stops him from doing so.

“I am too old now. Legends League seems to be a lot of fun. I was invited, but I had an eye operation. I know you might think that I can play with one eye but I would rather not do that,” he said.