Overview

• De Villiers published the letter on social media on June 11, detailing feelings penned June 4 en route from Ahmedabad to Johannesburg.
• He described the IPL triumph as the culmination of beliefs, heartbreaks and loyalty built over his 11-year tenure with the franchise.
• The former star praised captain Rajat Patidar and emerging players like Devdutt for stepping up on cricket’s biggest stage.
• De Villiers recounted a silent, emotional exchange with Virat Kohli after being invited to join the on-field victory celebrations.
• The Bengaluru ceremony at Chinnaswamy Stadium was overshadowed by a stampede that left several dead and dozens injured.