AB De Villiers, popularly known as Mr 360, shocked his fans by returning to competitive cricket after four long years. On 28 January 2025, De Villiers announced his comeback to cricket with the captaincy of Game Changers South Africa Champion in the World Championship of Legends (WCL).
WCL is a T20 tournament celebrating the legacy of retired and non-contracted cricket legends worldwide, and ABD confirmed that he will lead the Game Changers South Africa Champion in the second edition of the upcoming T20 tournament, which is set to kick off on 8 July 2025 – truly, a nostalgic moment for cricket enthusiasts.
He is set to lead the star-studded Game Changers team that featured former Proteas legends, including, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Dale Steyn, and Imran Tahir during the WCL’s inaugural season. Therefore, De Villiers’s inclusion as captain brings a new wave of excitement and leadership to the team.
The South African Cricket Legend, ABD, retired from international cricket in 2018 but continued to play the IPL till 2021. Moreover, after retiring, he has been an active cricket expert – hosting cricket shows on his social media account.
It’s official. I will be playing for the South African team @WCLSAChampions in the upcoming @WclLeague 2025! 🌟
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) January 28, 2025
Mark your calendars: the tournament runs from 18th July to 2nd August.
Can’t wait to renew rivalry with so many legends from five other countries. I’m heading to the… pic.twitter.com/4GnUwdP8LB
A Look at the Successful Career of Mr 360
Surely, he had a memorable career having featured in 114 Tests, 228 ODIs, and 78 T20Is from 2004 to 2018. Talking about tests, he played 114 tests and scored 8765 runs, with an average of 50.66. Moreover, he also holds the record for 22 centuries and 46 half-centuries in the tests.
Moving on to the ODIs, he has played 228 matches and scored 9577, with an average of 53.50. He has registered 25 centuries and 53 half-centuries throughout his ODI career. Next, talking about the T20Is, he has played 78 matches and scored 1672, with an average of 26.12. Throughout his T20I career, he has hit 10 half-centuries.
Further, beyond his explosive contribution to South Africa, de Villiers holds a special place in the hearts of Indian cricket fans due to his memorable performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), a franchise where he became a legend.
Some Kind of Flame has been Lit Again: ABD
Reflecting on his return, the 40-year-old stated that previously lost the urge to play cricket, but playing with his sons in the garden has again sparked his interest. Now, he is preparing himself in the gym for the much-awaited World Championship of Legends (WCL).
“Four years ago, I retired from all cricket because I just didn’t feel the urge to play anymore. Well, time has passed, and my young sons have started playing the game. We’ve been playing more and more often in the garden, and, well, it feels as though some kind of flame has been lit again. So I am heading back to the gym and the nets, and I’ll be ready for WCL in July,” de Villiers said.
With ABD’s return to cricket, fans have the opportunity to witness their favorite retired legend back to action once again. Moreover, thanks to the World Championship of Legends (WCL), with de Villiers taking charge, the Game Changers are set to become one of the tournament’s most-followed teams.
