World Cup 2015: A sobbing De Villiers rues the missed chances after epic defeat

AUCKLAND: AB de Villiers was struggling to hold back tears. He was at the press-conference, just 15 minutes after his team's heartbreaking defeat in the semifinal, and failed to control his emotions. AB had believed he could lead his team to unchartered territory of World Cup final, but just like his predecessors, he had fallen short. "I don't know what to do, I am completely at a loss," AB said, acknowledging that this was his worst moment on a cricket field.
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Even the media was apologetic while asking him whether he felt that he had let the World Cup go by missing Corey Anderson's runout at a crucial moment."There were quite a few chances that we have missed, and yes, the one that I missed was surely one of the most important. If you want to label it as me letting go of the World Cup, I will accept it," the champion said.
Tuesday's game at Eden Park will be counted among one of the best World Cup games, and the SA skipper was asked whether that would be any consolation. "It doesn't make me feel any better at all. We play this game to win, to bring home glory and make a difference in the lives of the people whom we represent. We didn't achieve that and it hurts," AB said.
The South Africans had surprised one and all by including Vernon Philander ahead of the inform Kyle Abbott, a decision that backfired in the end. AB, though, didn't give an inch on this front. "I don't repent a single decision that I have taken," he shot back.
AB was constantly talking to Dale Steyn when the paceman was bowling the last over. "We were talking before every ball ­ what length it should be bowled. Grant (Elliott) was walking across the wicket and it was obvious he was expecting a yorker. So we decided to bowl length, hoping that he would miss. But there's not much you can do when somebody comes up and plays the best shot of his life," AB said.
The skipper, though, was not in the mood to give excuses. He said that the loss had nothing to do with the rain and the team had adapted well. "This loss is not about the rain, it's about the chances that we didn't take," the captain rued.
He knows how difficult it is to pick up the pieces and for now, he doesn't have a clue. "I don't know, I don't even know when we are going home, but I will be there for my boys," AB left the stage, choking up.
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