'You can't compare me to Dhoni'- AB de Villiers' stunning reply to retirement question during WCL 2025
AB de Villiers humorously ruled out an IPL return during WCL 2025, saying, “You can't compare me to Dhoni” while praising RCB fans and their 2025 title win.
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South African legend AB de Villiers gave a humorous yet heartfelt response when asked about potentially reversing his retirement during the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025. Amid growing fan excitement, especially after his scintillating form in the tournament, De Villiers dismissed the idea of returning to professional cricket by cheekily avoiding comparisons with MS Dhoni, who is still playing IPL at 44.
De Villiers was a key figure in South Africa Champions’ WCL 2025 triumph. He made 429 runs in six matches, scoring three centuries, and made an unforgettable unbeaten 120 in the final to lead his team to the title. His explosive return to the field led to inevitable questions about a possible IPL comeback with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the franchise he starred for from 2011 to 2021.
Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast, De Villiers said, "I'll be too nervous. I think I'll rather just support. I'm a very good supporter. The IPL is just very long, and it is a three-month tournament. It's a really big commitment for someone at the age of 41. You can't compare me to Dhoni. I work a lot harder. I had a lot more hard work through the years. I'm just kidding. I'll take my hat to them. But we're all different. It depends. I gave it my best shot, and I'm happy."
RCB fans show love during WCL as De Villiers recalls special moment
De Villiers, a fan favorite during his time at RCB, also reflected on the global support the franchise enjoys. He was pleasantly surprised to see RCB fans show up in the United Kingdom during the WCL, with familiar chants echoing across the Northampton venue.
"Everyone loves RCB. We had a ground called Northampton County Cricket Club, and as I arrived, there were a lot of RCB fans. I immediately picked up the chants. It was very cool to hear that again. Obviously, RCB are the current champions of the IPL, finally, for the first time, I am very happy to say that," he said. De Villiers was also present at the Narendra Modi Stadium for the IPL 2025 final, where RCB defeated Punjab Kings by six runs. In a heartwarming gesture, Virat Kohli invited both De Villiers and Chris Gayle to lift the trophy—making it a perfect end to RCB’s 18-year wait for their maiden IPL title.
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