Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers shared how difficult the exit from the 2015 World Class was for him. He also said that he had to deal with the heart-breaking loss for one year.
ABDV on 2015 World Cup exit
On Cricbuzz’s show, ABDV revealed to Harsha Bhogle that the 2015 World Cup semi-final was a tough one to handle. In a rain-interrupted fixture at Eden Park, New Zealand defeated South Africa with just one ball to spare. It was a difficult situation for the Proteas and their fan. The skipper of the South African team during the World Cup, ABDV recalled, “We got close. I am specifically very proud of the way we played in 2015 (World Cup) and certainly rocking up on that evening in Eden Park, playing some of the best cricket of the tournament, we were so close. I am proud of our performances looking back.”
He added, “The next 12 months was really tough for me. Maybe I should’ve been more honest about it when I look back and communicated about it. I felt like I was a little bit alone at the time but it’s silly to say that you’re alone if you don’t seek help if you don’t talk about it.”
The aftereffect was huge
ABDV further opined that discussing and sharing with others probably would have made him feel better back then. “If I could have it over again, I would probably open up discussions with the coach, administrators and discuss my way forward. I should’ve shared my emotions with them and things that bothered me. I didn’t. That really wore me down a touch but I kept playing, I tried to bite the bullet, I tried to be there. I was batting really well. I still had incredible friendships and memories.”
De Villiers who retired from international cricket in 2018 told that the loss had a role to play behind his sudden retirement call. He explained that he failed to move on as it hurt way too much. “We got beaten by sport on the night and it was actually a beautiful thing but it was difficult for me to get through that year and to specifically meet up with the team again a few months later, having to go again. Here we go again, we have to restart but I am like hold on, I am not over this World Cup.
