AB de Villiers retires from International Cricket! Here’s why

AB de Villiers has announced his departure from all forms of international cricket with immediate effect. De Villiers has decided to draw curtains of his career after playing 114 Tests. 228 One-Day Internationals and 78 T20 Internationals.

In a video, he is seen saying that ‘the time is right’ for him to retire.

“After 114 Test matches, 228 ODI’s and 78 T20Is, it is time for others to take over. I have had my turn, and to be honest, I am tired,” he said.

“This is a tough decision, I have thought about it for a long time but now I’d like to retire while still playing decent cricket. After having won fantastic series against India and Australia, it feels the right time to step aside,” he added.

His records and statistics speak of the stature and his brilliance. He holds a phenomenal number of milestones to his name, he holds the World Record for the fastest ODI 50 (16 balls), 100 (31 balls) and 150 (64 balls), the second highest individual Test score for South Africa (278*), the highest points (935) by a South African on the ICC Test rankings and has been bestowed with the coveted SA Cricketer of the Year award twice (2014 and 2015).

He retires with an incredible Test average of 50.66 and as the fourth-highest run-scorer for South Africa with 8765 runs (22 100’s).

I’ve made a big decision today pic.twitter.com/In0jyquPOK

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) May 23, 2018

Here’s how Twitter reacted to his decision:

International cricket will miss AB de Villiers. pic.twitter.com/JVKOms2RXx

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) May 23, 2018

AB de Villiers, the best all format batsman of his generation, retiring from international cricket a year before 2019 WC is a huge blow – maybe biggest yet – to primacy of international cricket.

— Tim Wigmore (@timwig) May 23, 2018

The way he was thrashing the ball during IPL showed what perfect form he was in?
Cricket’s gonna miss a player like this. Future mein India ke coach bann jaana please ?☺️#ByeABD @ABdeVilliers17

— Bhuvan Bam (@Bhuvan_Bam) May 23, 2018

The biggest entertainer in the last decade has bid goodbye to International cricket…your absence will be felt, AB. Cricket will be poorer. Wish you all the best for your future endeavours. Go well @ABdeVilliers17 ??

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 23, 2018