Former South African cricket captain AB de Villiers recently shared a video on his Instagram account, showing him enjoying a game of padel tennis with some of his fellow cricketing legends. Joining him on the padel court were former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee, and Indian cricket icons Zaheer Khan, Robin Uthappa, and Aakash Chopra.
De Villiers, known for his explosive batting and innovative stroke play, took to social media to post the video, which captured the lighthearted moment during his visit to India. The video, which he captioned, “Throwback to a day of padel with some of my friends when I was in India,” quickly garnered attention from fans worldwide, eager to see their favorite cricketers unwind off the pitch.
AB de Villiers: A New Passion for Padel Tennis
In the video, de Villiers also spoke about his growing interest in padel tennis, a sport that has been gaining popularity in recent years. Describing padel as “fun and addictive,” the former cricketer emphasized the benefits it offers, particularly in terms of fitness. He highlighted how the sport provides a full-body workout, improves coordination and reflexes, and is low-impact, making it suitable for all ages and fitness levels.
De Villiers added, “I absolutely love it. It’s a full-body workout, it improves coordination and reflexes. It’s a low-impact sport, reducing the chances of injury, and most importantly, it’s fun and addictive.”
AB de Villiers’ Cricketing Legacy
Though de Villiers retired from international cricket in 2018, he continued to captivate fans through his performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) until 2021. His illustrious career saw him score 19,864 runs in 415 matches for South Africa across all formats, including 47 centuries and 108 fifties, making him the second-highest run-scorer for the Proteas.
In the IPL, de Villiers remains a fan favorite and the second-highest run-getter for RCB, amassing 4,522 runs from 145 innings at a remarkable strike rate of 158.33. His ability to play innovative and aggressive shots earned him the nickname “Mr. 360” among fans and peers.
Padel Tennis: The New Craze
Padel tennis, the sport de Villiers has recently picked up, is a racquet sport typically played in doubles on an enclosed court smaller than a tennis court. The game has been praised for being easy to learn and providing a fun way to stay fit, which is likely why it has caught the attention of de Villiers and many others.
As de Villiers and his cricketing friends continue to stay active post-retirement, their foray into padel tennis is just another example of how sports can bring people together, even after their professional playing days are over.
For fans of de Villiers, this video is a delightful reminder of the camaraderie that exists between cricket legends, both on and off the field. It also serves as an invitation to explore padel tennis, a sport that is clearly gaining traction among athletes from various disciplines.
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