Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers has spoken candidly about his time with the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in the IPL, describing the team environment as ‘toxic’. De Villiers, who played for Delhi from 2009 to 2010, recounted his experiences in an interview, highlighting the presence of ‘poisonous characters’ within the team. During his tenure with Delhi, he played 28 matches, scoring nearly 700 runs, including a century and three half-centuries. He later joined RCB in 2011, where he became a highly successful player until his retirement in 2021. De Villiers discussed his Delhi experience with Cricket.com, sharing both positive and negative aspects. He recalled moments with cricketing legends like Glenn McGrath and Daniel Vettori, acknowledging their influence while also pointing out the challenging dynamics within the team. De Villiers noted that he didn’t receive the support he needed during his time with the franchise. He reflected on his relationship with McGrath, sharing how the Australian legend went from being an intimidating opponent to a teammate. The interview revealed the complex nature of team dynamics and the impact of personalities on the overall atmosphere.
