South African batting great AB De Villiers has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Friday, bringing an end to a stellar cricketing career.
De Villiers who had announced his retirement from international cricket in 2019, scored 5162 runs in 184 Indian Premier League matches playing for the Delhi Daredevils from 2009 to 2010 and for Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2011 to 2021.
Regarded as one of the best batters of his generation, De Villiers made a great impact on cricket in South Africa and across the globe.
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Here are some of the best reactions after his retirement:
Announcement 🔊 @ABdeVilliers17 retires from all cricket
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) November 19, 2021
End of an era! 😔 There’s nobody like you, AB. We’ll miss you dearly at RCB. ❤️ For all that you’ve done and given to the team, to the fans, and to cricket lovers in general, #ThankYouAB 🙏🏼 Happy retirement, legend! pic.twitter.com/JivSPTVn88
This hurts my heart but I know you've made the best decision for yourself and your family like you've always done. 💔I love you 💔 @ABdeVilliers17
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) November 19, 2021
There is no doubt in my mind that @ABdeVilliers17 has been one of the most influential players of his generation. A genius, a true successor to Lara. Wish you well AB. I am sure your countless fans at @RCBTweets will want to give you a befitting send-off. You were a great combo.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 19, 2021
Thank you for the memories, the records broken and the entertainment @ABdeVilliers17 💚
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) November 19, 2021
We salute your contribution to the game and wish you everything of the best for the future 🇿🇦 #ThankYouAB pic.twitter.com/iL74NShG4W
Looked up to in my early cricket days and it’s been an honour to play against you 😊 Good luck @ABdeVilliers17 and thank you for everything you’ve done for cricket 👏 https://t.co/iLqqdqy6ax
— Shreyas Iyer (@ShreyasIyer15) November 19, 2021
From whatever IPL I've seen, after the incomparable "Saaachiiin, Sachin..." chant at the Wankhede, the second-most popular one has to be "ABD... ABD..." at Chinnaswamy.
— KSR (@KShriniwasRao) November 19, 2021
Bangalore's love for AB DeVilliers has been all-encompassing. The city is going to miss him big.
You were my childhood inspiration and I always tried to learn from your charismatic approach. I still remember the first time I met you and how welcoming you were. You have inspired many generations of cricket. Wish you the very best and a happy retirement, @ABdeVilliers17! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/nlqsyW8iSI
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) November 19, 2021
The best I’ve ever seen, and someone who I’ve always looked up to! Took the game to another level singlehandedly #mr360
— Sam Billings (@sambillings) November 19, 2021
Thankyou 🙌🏼👏🏼 @ABdeVilliers17 https://t.co/lzEQ3MYP13
"ABD, ABD, ABD!"
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) November 19, 2021
This is at Wankhede. In an ODI vs India. This is what you meant to cricket fans.
The game will miss you, @ABdeVilliers17!#ThankYouABDeVilliers
(Video credit: @sumitnawde) pic.twitter.com/RPI4aJoqxC
Definitely a kind of relief for myself and all the bowlers . Thank you soo much for the great memories and inspiring soo many of youngsters including me . We will definitely Miss you Mr 360 @abdevilliers17 ❤️❤️🙌🏻🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/yAi23Cv8gw
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) November 19, 2021
Well done @ABdeVilliers17 on a special career. I've been extremely lucky to be on the same cricket field as you. The game will not be the same without you. The greatest player I have played with.🐐 https://t.co/N3BJ3Jxw6Q
— Faf Du Plessis (@faf1307) November 19, 2021
Anushka Sharma's Instagram story on Ab De Villiers' retirement. pic.twitter.com/6SPc6f1LGX
— CricketMAN2 (@man4_cricket) November 19, 2021
AB De Villiers in the IPL:
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 19, 2021
170 - Innings.
5162 - Runs.
39.71 - Average.
151.69 - Strike Rate.
251 - Sixes.
- One of all time greatest of cricket and the IPL, Mr. 360 will be missed from IPL 2022. pic.twitter.com/YhfSDUYuG2
I don’t think any overseas player has had as much love as AB de Villiers in India.
— Rupin Kale (@Vegansportlover) November 19, 2021
IPL fans will miss him and remember him as one of their own.
@ chinnaswamy idk build an AB statue or change the name to AB DE VILLIERS stadium, just do it
— thank you, AB (@PoorvikaKumar) November 19, 2021
AB de Villiers survived 220 balls for 33 to save the Adelaide Test in 2012 - and then thumped 169 off 184 to help win the Perth Test a week later.
— Tim Wigmore (@timwig) November 19, 2021
The batter who could do everything; a player of incredible range, skill and versatility.
Cricket will miss @ABdeVilliers17.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 19, 2021
In 2008, those magic hands and bat helped South Africa to chase down 414 against Australia in Perth. What a player he was, one of the all-time greats. pic.twitter.com/iueDrw1fpH
AB de Villiers announces retirement from all cricket 😢 What an amazing player he was! pic.twitter.com/HKhGgcNrZE
— Wajahat Kazmi (@KazmiWajahat) November 19, 2021
AB de Villiers retires from all forms of cricket.His ability to hit the shots all round the ground made him special.Has played innumerable innings which no one else could across formats. One of the most versatile batters to play cricket
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) November 19, 2021
Best wishes for everything @ABdeVilliers17
When I tweeted before the second leg of IPL about an all time great will pad up one last time and now the suspense is over finally.Iam sure you all got your answers now.Dankie @ABdeVilliers17 there won’t be another player like you ever in future #GOAT
— Prasanna (@prasannalara) November 19, 2021
How ‘unicorn’ AB de Villiers redefined batting in T20 cricket. An extract from Cricket 2.0. #ThankYouAB https://t.co/Nbb7VPzlSC
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) November 19, 2021
Can't imagine RCB without you @ABdeVilliers17#ThankyouABpic.twitter.com/ziJ1TQFfwh
— Guddu pandit 🥚 (@vkholic18) November 19, 2021
Go well in retirement, ABD. What a career. https://t.co/IDbPNKy5c9
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) November 19, 2021
The best there is, the best there ever will be.
— Sritama Panda (Ross Taylor’s Version) (@cricketpun_duh) November 19, 2021
Happy Retirement, ABD. It was our goddamn honour watching you play the sport. pic.twitter.com/sHGG1GbObF
AB de villiers is proof that trophies aren't indicitave of a players greatness
— Sabeeha Majid 🏏 (@SabeehaMajid) November 19, 2021
AB de Villiers was an all-format genius. 25 centuries in ODIs - all inns at a strike-rate of 100plus. The only man with 50plus AVG and 100plus SR in ODIs. The only player in IPL with 5000 runs at 150plus SR. 22 Test centuries (only 1 in losing cause). Thank you, @ABdeVilliers17!
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) November 19, 2021
ABD retires from all forms of the game. Had a feeling this was on the cards, and that's why had tweeted this back during the IPL.
— Snehal Pradhan #MaskUp (@SnehalPradhan) November 19, 2021
What a player, what a career. #ThankYouABD https://t.co/dBdcTrluN2
Just in - #ABDevilliers retires from all forms of the game including franchise cricket! It means he will not play for #RCB again. @ABdeVilliers17 -“I have played the game with pure enjoyment and unbridled enthusiasm. Now, at the age of 37, that flame no longer burns so brightly”. pic.twitter.com/88Il7EuUet
— Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) November 19, 2021
The fact that he used English, Afrikaans and Hindi here. Truly the adopted son.
— Manya (@CSKian716) November 19, 2021
Man, cricket is poorer today. https://t.co/gQe8uB93mh
Oh well...... Go well, champ!! It was a pleasure watching you play! 😇💐✨ #ABDRetires https://t.co/X6ObGfeX8V
— Megha Kaveri (She/Her) (@meghakaveri) November 19, 2021
Happy Retirement, @abdevilliers17 - All the best in your next chapter, it was a pleasure sharing a dressing room with you! #Legend 🙏🏿✊🏿 https://t.co/392KzB65cx
— Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) November 19, 2021