The 32-year-old has battled an elbow injury for close to six months and has been ruled out of the Test series against Sri Lanka which starts Boxing Day.

"The interests of the team must always outweigh the interests of any individual including me," he said in a Cricket South Africa news release on Monday.

Faf Du Plessis captained the Proteas to a 2-1 Test series win over Australia and is expected to take up the role full-time despite his recent well-publicised ball-tampering woes.  

"It was a fantastic honour for me to be asked to captain the Test side but I have missed two series," De Villiers said.

"Following the squad's outstanding performances in Australia, it is clearly in the greater interests of the team that Faf du Plessis should be confirmed as permanent Test captain.

"I have known Faf for almost 20 years, ever since we played in the same school side at Afrikaans Hoer Seunskool, and he will have my unequivocal support."