AB de Villiers, a celebrated figure in the Indian Premier League (IPL), delivered numerous memorable performances, especially during his tenure with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). However, his initial stint with the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) from 2008 to 2010 is often overlooked. During his time with Delhi, de Villiers amassed 671 runs in 28 innings, averaging around 29. In contrast, his move to RCB in 2011 marked a significant upturn in his IPL career, where he became one of the league’s most formidable batters. Reflecting on his Delhi days, de Villiers described the period as tumultuous, citing internal discord and the presence of “a lot of poisonous characters” within the team, which hindered cohesion and performance. Additionally, de Villiers revealed that despite assurances from Delhi management about his retention for the 2011 season, he was unexpectedly released before the auction. This lack of clear communication left him surprised and disappointed. In a recent interview with Cricket.com, former South African cricket captain AB de Villiers candidly discussed his early Indian Premier League (IPL) tenure with the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). He described the team environment during his 2008–2010 stint as “in shambles,” citing the presence of “poisonous characters” that disrupted team cohesion and performance. De Villiers refrained from naming individuals but emphasized the internal discord that overshadowed his experience, despite sharing the dressing room with cricketing legends like Glenn McGrath and Daniel Vettori. He recalled the bittersweet nature of those years, highlighting both the privilege of playing alongside his heroes and the challenges posed by the team’s toxic culture. Reflecting on his performance, de Villiers noted that while he had a successful 2009 season in South Africa, scoring 465 runs, he faced inconsistent selection and support upon returning to India. He expressed frustration over being told he would be retained, only to find himself back in the auction unexpectedly.That was a pivotal moment for me. These legends were my idols, and I was incredibly intimidated by them during my youth,” he shared. “Take McGrath, for instance. When I faced him in a Test match back in 2006, I was so overwhelmed that I could barely breathe and didn’t exchange a single word with him. Fast forward to 2008, and suddenly, he’s sitting beside me, saying, ‘I appreciate your style of play.’ I was taken aback, thinking, ‘Is this really happening?’
“There Were Poisonous Characters In That Side”: AB de Villiers On His Former IPL Team
