They Didn’t Want Me There: AB de Villiers reflects on dark days during his initial IPL career

AB de Villiers, known for making cricket look effortless and dismantling bowling attacks with his unmatched strokeplay, is revered as one of the greatest batters the IPL has seen. While his legacy is forever tied to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), where he played iconic innings in front of a roaring M Chinnaswamy crowd, his IPL journey actually began with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). And according to de Villiers, those initial years weren’t as smooth as they appeared on the surface.

"The Team Was in Shambles"

In a candid recent interview with Cricket.com, the South African maestro revealed the turbulence within the Delhi franchise during his stint from 2008 to 2010. Despite a team brimming with legends like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Glenn McGrath, Shikhar Dhawan, and Daniel Vettori, internal disharmony and ego clashes plagued the environment.

“I'd hate to give you names—burning people, you know, but the Delhi Daredevils were in shambles. There were a lot of poisonous characters in that team,” de Villiers stated bluntly.

Although the franchise reached the playoffs in the first two editions, de Villiers felt that behind the scenes, chaos reigned.

Bittersweet Memories and Growing Frustration

Despite the internal dysfunction, de Villiers cherishes some memories especially rubbing shoulders with his childhood heroes.

“Spending time with Glenn McGrath and Vettori was surreal. I was honestly scared of them,” he admitted.

His 2009 season in South Africa went well, but by 2010, he found himself inexplicably benched. Lack of communication and unclear roles led to growing frustration.

“I was told I’d be retained, then suddenly I was in the auction. I had no idea what had happened. So many weird things went on,” he said.

Finding Belonging at RCB

The real turning point came in 2011, when de Villiers joined RCB. The contrast in atmosphere was striking.

“From the day I walked into RCB, I felt like I belonged. They told me, ‘You're the man. You're going to grow here,’” de Villiers recalled. “That was it—done and dusted.”

At RCB, he not only found form but also family. The franchise backed him fully, allowing him to flourish into a true IPL legend.

Behind the Fame, Real Struggles

AB de Villiers’ revelations offer a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes reality of professional sport, where talent alone isn’t always enough. Culture, communication, and team harmony matter just as much. For de Villiers, the transition from a "shambles" to a supportive environment was key to unlocking his potential and writing one of IPL’s most loved legacies.