Former South African captain and cricket star AB de Villiers has confirmed his return to the game this July, marking his first appearance since retiring from all formats four years ago.

De Villiers, widely regarded as one of the most dynamic batters in cricket history, initially retired from international cricket in 2018. He continued to play in franchise leagues until 2021, when he retired from all forms of the game.

Recently, the 40-year-old expressed his desire to return to the field, revealing that his young sons’ growing interest in the sport rekindled his passion for cricket.

“Four years ago, I retired from all cricket because I just didn’t feel the urge to play anymore,” de Villiers said. “But 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.”

De Villiers confirmed that he will be returning to competitive cricket to lead the South Africa Champions in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025. “So, I am heading back to the gym and the nets, and I’ll be ready for WCL in July,” he added.

The World Championship of Legends (WCL) is a unique T20 tournament featuring retired and non-contracted cricketers representing their national teams. The upcoming edition in 2025 will be the second edition of the tournament, following its inaugural edition in 2024, where the Indian team, captained by Yuvraj Singh, emerged as champions.

De Villiers’ last appearance in competitive cricket was in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, where he played for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).