AB de Villiers is one of the most loved cricketers across the globe. A lot of current and ex-cricketers and Pundits love and respect him. He is one of the best batsmen in the world and is liked a lot for his contribution to cricket. Though he has not had too much success with the South African team and the Royal Challengers Bangalore side, he is still appreciated for what he has given to the game.
However, where there is love and appreciation, there will be some dislike or hate too. That is the case with Ab de Villiers too. This is just how things work these days, whether it is in real life or on Social Media platforms.
Why Khaya Zondo Lost His Respect And Captain And Childhood Hero AB De Villiers
Though cricket fans love to believe that a player like AB de Villiers has no haters, that is not always the case. There are fans and current or ex-players that may not like him for any reason. Khaya Zondo is one such South African player, who made his opinions clear on the matter.
Khaya Zondo was part of the South African squad back in 2015. He was deemed a deserving candidate during that time and could have been something special. Despite that, he has now confirmed that was not given an opportunity in the ODI series.
In the fifth ODI against India back in 2015, JP Duminy was unavailable to play. Zondo was supposed to start that game. However, Dean Elgar was given the chance instead and that really demotivated the player.
The Official Statement Made By The Player On This Incident And What Hurt Him The Most?
“De Villiers (the skipper) called me over to the side. He took me away from the rest of the team. He then told me he was the one who felt I should not play. Was trying to explain himself. He took full responsibility for the decision.”
“I remember him explaining himself to me. He lost all respect for him as a captain. As someone, I looked up to as a cricketing hero of mine I could not believe he was trying to justify himself to me. It came across as if I should accept this decision because the decision came from him.”
The player even thought that his race was a problem at a certain point in time. He eventually detached himself from that tour and did not look back. This wasn’t good for the player and his thought process and morale. The exact reason for not playing him was still unknown.
Despite that, the player does not respect AB de Villiers anymore, which is now clear. Things can get heated at times without any reason. Or maybe, there was a valid reason for him to be displeased with his skipper. Whatever be the case, we leave it for the fans to decide what they think about the incident. For now, we just want to see the South African team do well with whatever players they have listed in their team for the upcoming tournaments.
