Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has described how close he came to losing vision in his right eye, saying doctors warned him that a detached retina could have cost him his sight.
Speaking on a podcast, de Villiers said his right eye was not his dominant one, so the problem had less effect on his batting than it might have. He said the vision in that eye would blur during the Indian Premier League, especially at night. He avoided surgery while still playing and had it examined only after retiring. Doctors diagnosed the detachment and operated the next day.
How the Injury Happened
De Villiers has said one of his children accidentally struck him in the eye with a heel, after which he began losing vision in that eye. He told Wisden Cricket Monthly in December 2023 that the surgeon asked how he had managed to play cricket in that state, and that his left eye carried him through the last two years of his career.
In a later YouTube video, he said he was fortunate not to be hit by a ball in that period, because a doctor had told him he was a single knock away from losing the eye.
Earlier Disclosures
The surgery itself was disclosed earlier than the latest podcast. In October 2022, de Villiers told followers in a Twitter Space that he had undergone surgery on his right eye for a retinal detachment, and ruled out a playing comeback. He also said he was not planning to coach a team, preferring to spend time at home after 18 years of travel.
Career Background
De Villiers retired from international cricket in May 2018 but kept playing T20 franchise cricket until November 2021. His final IPL game was a playoff defeat with Royal Challengers Bangalore against Kolkata Knight Riders. Across 13 IPL seasons he scored 5,162 runs in 184 matches at an average of 39.71.
In Tests, he scored 8,765 runs in 114 matches at 50.66, with 22 centuries and a best of 278 not out. Known as “Mr. 360” for his shot-making all around the ground, he holds the ODI records for the fastest fifty, hundred and 150, and won the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year award three times.
Why He Didn’t Return
De Villiers has said Covid played a role in his decision not to return to international cricket, along with the hurt of the 2015 World Cup and a team culture he felt wasn’t right when he was ready to commit.