Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers took to social media to announce his retirement from all forms of the game.

AB de Villiers made the announcement on Friday, 19 November, marking an end to an incredible career that spanned more than 18 years.

“It has been an incredible journey, but I have decided to retire from all cricket,” ABD wrote on Twitter. “Ever since the back yard matches with my older brothers, I have played the game with pure enjoyment and unbridled enthusiasm. Now, at the age of 37, that flame no longer burns so brightly.

“That’s the reality I must accept – and, even if it may seem sudden, that is why I am making this announcement today. I’ve had my time. Cricket has been exceptionally kind to me.”

Having made his international debut in 2004, AB de Villiers represented South Africa in 114 Tests, 228 ODIs and 78 T20Is. Across formats, he amassed 20014 runs, averaging more than 50 in both Tests and ODIs. He retired from international cricket in May 2018.

Under the leadership of de Villiers, South Africa made it to the semi-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia but lost in a thriller to New Zealand.

Amongst the several personal accolades achieved throughout his illustrious career, de Villiers holds the joint record for the most ICC Men’s ODI Player of the Year awards won. He won it thrice – in years 2010, 2014, 2015 – and is now tied with Virat Kohli.

In the ICC Awards of the Decade last year, he was nominated for Sir Garfield Sobers Award for Male Cricketer of the Decade as well as the Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade.

More recently, he was part of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2021 Indian Premier League. He had a successful T20 career, playing 340 matches and scoring 9424 runs at a strike-rate of 150.13.