AB de Villiers may have officially retired from professional cricket, but let’s be honest, the man hasn’t lost his magic. He walked away from international cricket in 2018 and then called time on all forms in 2021. Fans accepted his decision with heavy hearts, but we all hoped we hadn’t seen the last of him. And now, in the World Championship of Legends 2025, AB de Villiers has reminded us why we fell in love with his game in the first place.
He is 41 years old now. Most players his age have moved on, become coaches or commentators, or faded into the background. But not AB. In a match against India Champions at the County Ground in Northampton, he showed the world that age is just a number.
AB de Villiers proves he is still the superman of cricket with a stunning relay catch
Let’s talk about that relay catch. Yusuf Pathan hit what looked like a sure-shot six. But AB, fielding at wide long-on, sprinted across, grabbed the ball mid-air, and just as momentum was about to take him over the rope, tossed it to Sarel Erwee, who completed the catch. It was well and truly a perfect example of how cricket is not just about individual brilliance but also teamwork. At 41, pulling off such an effort isn’t normal in the first place.
𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐀𝐁 𝐝𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 📑✍️
Even after four years away from the game, he’s making the impossible look easy 😮💨#WCL2025 #ABD pic.twitter.com/ixmXJ6YBSK
— FanCode (@FanCode) July 22, 2025
Earlier in the innings, he played a fearless brand of cricket. He top-scored with 63 off 30 balls and remained unbeaten throughout the inning. Notably, he maintained a strike rate of 210 and laced his innings with the help of three fours and four sixes with the same ease with which he used to bat in his prime. There was no rust at all in his approach; neither did he show signs of slowing down. It was like watching the old ABD again, the one who could turn a match in a blink.
South Africa Champions put up a total of 208, and a lot of the credit goes to the former Proteas batter for setting the tone. Amla and Rudolph gave a steady start, but it was AB who gave the innings direction.
India Champions, in contrast, lacked the tooth in the run-chase. Chasing a big target, they lost wickets too quickly. Stuart Binny was the only one who offered resistance with 37 runs. South Africa’s bowler, especially Aaron Phangiso, was disciplined and relentless. He registered 3/17 in four overs, and the Proteas won by 88 runs (DLS method). AB de Villiers was named the Man of the Match.
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AB de Villiers may no longer be in the IPL or international cricket. But performances like this prove that legends don’t need to be in the spotlight to shine. Even in a league of retired players, AB plays like a man with something to prove, not to the world, but to himself.
Some fans wonder whether he could have carried on a bit longer in the IPL or T20 leagues. Maybe. But that’s not the point anymore. The point is, even after retirement, he is giving fans something to smile about. And in a time when most modern stars are defined by branding and image, AB is still defined by effort, passion, and love for the game.
For the record, AB de Villiers didn’t leave international cricket overnight, and it was a slow, emotional decision. His vision took a hit because of a detached retina, but the real struggle went beyond that. All he wanted was to play freely again, without stress, without noise, just the bat in hand and the love for the sport. The team environment no longer felt like home, and the heartbreak of the 2015 World Cup semi-final never really left him.
