South African batsman AB de Villiers’ participation in next year’s Indian Premier League has all but been confirmed.

De Villiers retired from international cricket earlier this year, shortly after returning from the IPL.

His IPL career featured a stint with the Delhi Daredevils, but has since been characterised by significant contributions for Bangalore.

His last seven innings of the 2018 edition yielded five half-centuries, including an entertaining 90 not out against the Daredevils.

‘De Villiers will be available for RCB. We have stated our intentions on this matter in the past as well,’ said Royal Challengers Bangalore chairman Sanjeev Churiwala recently.

The Royal Challengers have never won the IPL. The competition has been played 11 times. They were runners-up in 2009, 2011 and 2016 while they ended in sixth position in 2018.

The talismanic right-hander will reportedly play in the 2019 Pakistan Super League (PSL), too.

The former Proteas captain’s IPL contracts have been accompanied by a period with the Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League. He, however, has never participated in the PSL.

‘He is coming to PSL,’ an unnamed source told Geo TV. ‘As we speak, he is available for around three weeks, you can say around seven matches.’