AB de Villiers Discusses Toxic Atmosphere During His IPL Tenure
De Villiers Reflects on His Time with Delhi Daredevils
Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers has made serious allegations regarding his experience with the Delhi Daredevils, now known as Delhi Capitals, during his time in the IPL. He described the franchise as being in poor condition and labeled the team environment as toxic. De Villiers played for Delhi from 2009 to 2010, participating in 28 matches and accumulating nearly 700 runs, including one century and three half-centuries. He later joined Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2011, where he enjoyed a successful career until his retirement in 2021. In a recent interview with a sports platform, he shared his thoughts on his time with Delhi.
“I dislike naming individuals, but the Delhi Daredevils were struggling. There were many negative influences within the team. Despite having several legends, it was a difficult experience for me. I cherish the moments spent with Glenn McGrath and Daniel Vettori, but I was intimidated by them as they were my heroes,” de Villiers expressed.
"I would hate to give you names. Burning people, you know. But Delhi Daredevils were in shambles. There were lots of poisonous characters on that side." : AB de Villiers on CricketDotCom UNWIND.
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De Villiers on Glenn McGrath
Reflecting on his interactions with McGrath, he said, “I faced him in a Test match in 2006 and was completely overwhelmed. I didn’t even manage to speak to him. Fast forward to 2008, and he was sitting next to me, complimenting my playing style. It was surreal. However, I also witnessed negative influences within the team. Those three years were a mix of highs and lows for me, and I lacked the support I needed.”