AB de Villiers Remembers Challenging Beginning with His Initial IPL Side

AB de Villiers is best remembered as being among the most popular cricketers to have ever played in the Indian Premier League. He was still remembered by fans for his impeccable performance for the Royal Challengers Bangalore where he shared time with Virat Kohli and forged a good relationship with the team and its fans. But prior to becoming an RCB star he actually began his IPL career with another team. In 2008 AB de Villiers debuted in the IPL with Delhi Daredevils currently termed as the Delhi Capitals. Although he represented Delhi during the initial years not many are aware of his stint at that team because it was not so memorable or eventful for him.

Recently, AB de Villiers spoke about those initial days of the IPL and revealed something very unexpected. He claimed that during his stint with the Delhi Daredevils there were what he described as poisonous personalities in the team. He did not name anyone or point a finger at anybody but he indicated very strongly that the team culture was anything but good. In his opinion, this negative environment impacted not just his performance but the entire team morale as well. He equated the Delhi setup during that time as being in ruins and described how the pressure of having difficult personalities made it worse. This discovery has come as a shock to many fans particularly because Delhi boasted some star players in their roster.

Despite this AB de Villiers still has some good memories of that time. He had wonderful things to say regarding sharing the dressing room with cricket greats such as Glenn McGrath and Daniel Vettori. Despite the fact that the team itself was not working as a unit he still felt privileged to play alongside cricketing legends. These were cricketers he had admired as a boy and here he was sitting alongside them sporting the same jersey. That sort of experience remains a player for life.

AB de Villiers shared one such experience with Glenn McGrath that remained in his heart. He remembered how nervous he got the first time he played against McGrath in a Test match in 2006. At that time he was so awed by the great fast bowler that he could barely breathe or even utter a word. Leap forward to 2008 and there he was all set to play for Delhi with McGrath as a team-mate. What surprised him even more was that McGrath actually complimented him on the way he played. That moment seemed unbelievable to him and indicated how far he had traveled as a cricketer.

Although things did not go so well with Delhi AB de Villiers utilized that experience to develop. He took lessons from the adverse times and utilized that inspiration to mold the subsequent part of his IPL career. When he shifted to Royal Challengers Bangalore all of it changed. He discovered a team that assisted him and provided him with the freedom to let himself loose. At RCB he created one of the most cherished combinations in IPL history alongside Virat Kohli and provided fans with innumerable memories to keep for the rest of their lives. His aggressive batting his reliability and his performance under pressure made him an integral member of the RCB family and gained him a huge fan following in India and elsewhere in the world.

AB de Villiers' own remarks regarding his Delhi Daredevils experience also illustrate the significance of team culture in sports. Even he, a world-class player, failed in a setup that was not conducive. This goes to prove that a person's talent is not sufficient. A group must possess positive vibes mutual respect and faith in each other to do well on the field. When the players are relaxed and at ease they tend to perform better and deliver their best. That was most definitely the situation when AB de Villiers came to play for RCB where he felt home and thrived year after year.

De Villiers never attempted to fault anyone in particular for what did not go right while he was in Delhi. He just told his truth in a polite manner. His message was true but never mean and that is the kind of person he is. Even when talking about an unpleasant time in his career he balanced it by valuing the positives of that time. He also accepted the learning he obtained from being surrounded by legends and the value of those initial years in molding his path.

His tale serves as a wonderful reminder that all cricketers even the greats experience their share of highs and lows. It is not about the setbacks but how they handle them and how they learn from them. AB de Villiers demonstrated that with the right mental attitude and the right team culture anyone can come back stronger. Nowadays, he is remembered not only for his strong shots or capability to play 360 degrees but also for the humility and honesty with which he approaches life.

So although the Delhi Daredevils chapter of his IPL tale might not have been the brightest moment of his IPL journey it still contributed significantly to his development. It imparted lessons to him which he used later to become the largest name in T20 cricket. His own story is an indication that sometimes the rough starts make way for the most stunning finishes. And for AB de Villiers that stunning finish was with Royal Challengers Bangalore where he will always be remembered as a true legend.