Key facts
- AB de Villiers says he never played cricket for money
- De Villiers cited non-financial motivations as the driver of his career
- Remarks come alongside his comments on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's debut
AB de Villiers has offered a rare and candid window into his cricketing philosophy, telling The Times of India that financial reward never drove his career. 'I never played for money,' the South African great stated, in remarks that cut against the grain of modern professional sport's dominant narrative.
De Villiers declined to spell out exactly what did motivate him, leaving the specifics to be discovered in the fuller interview, but the sentiment itself speaks volumes about a player who consistently appeared to play for the sheer love of the game. He retired in 2018 at the age of 34 — still at the top of his powers — in a decision that surprised and saddened cricket fans worldwide.
His comments come at a moment when the Indian cricketing landscape is being shaped heavily by the commercial pull of the IPL and franchise T20 leagues globally. De Villiers, who was a beloved figure at Royal Challengers Bangalore for years, has also this week flagged concerns that young Indian talent like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi might be drawn primarily toward the 'easier' T20 format rather than pursuing all formats.
Taken together, de Villiers' remarks this week present a consistent picture: a cricketer who believes the game's deeper rewards go beyond salary and franchise contracts, and who hopes the next generation finds similar intrinsic motivation.