“I was released by Delhi Daredevils in 2010 after being told I would be retained”: AB de Villiers talks upon his IPL experience.

AB de Villiers stands as one of the most esteemed cricketers in the history of the sport. Culminating an illustrious career that spanned 18 years, he bid farewell to all forms of cricket in 2021, leaving behind a legacy of entertaining cricket enthusiasts worldwide. Notably, his impact extended beyond the boundaries of South Africa and resonated strongly in India, particularly due to his captivating performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) while representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Despite his association with RCB becoming iconic, it’s noteworthy that de Villiers initially embarked on his IPL journey with the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2008.

Following a three-season stint with the Delhi-based franchise, the cricket stalwart made a pivotal move to RCB, forming a legendary partnership with Virat Kohli. The transfer, however, raised eyebrows, given Delhi’s decision to release a player of de Villiers’ caliber. Recently, the Pretoria-born cricketer shed light on the circumstances preceding his departure from Delhi.

De Villiers disclosed that he was summoned to the Delhi officials’ office and assured of his retention for the 2011 IPL edition. Contrary to these assurances, the right-handed batsman found himself released before the auction, a decision that caught him off guard.

Ab de Villiers on his youtube channel said “When I played in the 2010 season, I got called into the office and was told ‘you are going to get retained, young AB de Villiers’. I sat alongside David Warner in that meeting. It came as a huge surprise to me a week or two later when I realised I had been released. So the communication wasn’t great back in the day, that must be different these days but it’s not a nice feeling.”

“You’re unsure of your career, at that time in 2010 I think I only played five games in that IPL season so a lot of doubts crept up in my mind. But I did have a very good international season. I kept playing good cricket and luckily for me the auction happened and I got picked up by RCB. That changed my life forever, so great memories with regards to that.”