Secret call key to AB de Villiers’ successful return to IPL
AB de Villiers’ revealed his wife’s words of confidence were the reason behind his remarkable return to form immediately after injury.
De Villiers had suffered a back problem that ruled him out of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) first two matches of the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL).
He played his first match of IPL 10 against Kings XI Punjab in Indore on Monday, and seemed to have left behind any fear of the injury that plagued him with a spectacular half century to help his team to a respectable total.
SUPER KNOCK
The South African batter — whose inclusion forced Chris Gayle out of RCB’s line-up for the match — struck 89* off just 46 balls to help the Bangalore franchise to a total of 148 for four.
Speaking with commentator Sanjay Manjrekar after getting the on-field microphone during Kings XI’s innings, De Villiers revealed that a conversation with his wife Danielle in the lead up to the match had helped overcome self-doubt that set in while he was injured.
‘SURPRISED MYSELF’
“I did surprise myself. It is a more mental thing than anything else, it’s not like you become a bad player overnight, the rustiness you refer to is more self-doubt, which was there over the last few days,” De Villiers said. “I phoned my wife just before the game telling her that I am doubting myself a bit but I surprised myself and played a few good shots. “She was lying next to my boy, sleeping, when I asked for her advice and she had to call back a few minutes later. She told me she backs me and to stay calm and that she was on her way, arriving tomorrow, so I think that was the inspiration,” he continued.
With his knock, De Villiers became only the ninth batsman to record 25 half-centuries in the history of the IPL.