Batting superstar and former Royal Challengers Bangalore great AB de Villiers has finally cleared the air on his comeback speculations. AB de Villiers, who played his last IPL game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2021, called it quits on his international career in 2018.
While speaking to his followers on twitter through Spaces, AB de Villiers said that he will return to the Chinnaswamy Stadium in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL 2023) for Royal Challengers Bangalore, however, in a different avatar this time. He made it clear that he will return in the next edition of the Indian Premier League but not for playing, just to thank all the fans for the support for over a decade.
With his statements, AB has put a rest to all the speculations which arose due to the statement which he gave during IPL 2022. de Villiers, who was included in the RCB Hall of Fame a few days back along with West Indies’ Chris Gayle, had said: “I will definitely be around the IPL next year. I would love to return to my second hometown. I will be around RCB next year, I am missing it, don’t know in which capacity but I would like to visit my second home which is Chinnaswamy stadium — I am looking forward to it.”
Clearing the air regarding his comeback, de Villiers said: “I will return to Chinnaswamy next year, not for playing but to apologise all the fans for not winning trophy and thank them for the support over a decade,”
He added: “I am not playing cricket again due to right side eye surgery,”
Meanwhile, the IPL 2023 auction is scheduled to be held on December 16. The IPL trading window may open as early as November with players like Ravindra Jadeja and Shubman Gill expected to be seen in different colors in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League.
