Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers has urged the Indian cricket team’s management, more specifically Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid, to rethink Virat Kohli’s batting position in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Virat Kohli’s underwhelming form has sparked talk about his future role, with AB de Villiers endorsing a change in the batting order for him to rediscover his batting number, even though he is best suited to playing at No. 3 due to his ability and record there.
Virat Kohli’s Struggles: AB De Villiers’ Perspective
Virat Kohli, one of India’s most dependable batters in all formats traditionally, has struggled to get going in the T20 World Cup 2024. Batting upfront with captain Rohit Sharma, Kohli has scored just five runs from three matches (before the Afghanistan game). The frustrated display has since sparked talks that he perhaps needs to be featured elsewhere on the side.
AB De Villiers, who was his former teammate at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has also spoken on this matter. The South African is among those who have always felt that Kohli should be batting at No. 3. Speaking during the match telecast, de Villiers defended Virat Kohli’s decision to bat one-down, stating that it gives him a chance to pick his spots in getting aggressive or working his way through a lot of balls. On his YouTube channel, he said:
I always said please bat Virat at number three. Because particularly in better wickets, you do not go there without Virat. He could adopt the attacking game or sit deep and take the pressure. Best in the world by a country mile when it comes to the middle overs. Then, I don’t see any reason for him to open.
AB de Villiers’ suggestion to allow Virat Kohli to bat at No. 3
AB De Villiers also urged India to play more aggressive cricket in the World Cup. Previous ICC tournaments have seen India adopt a safety-first policy and that has not always worked, he said. De Villiers wanted the team to take calculated risks from the beginning, all of which were critical aspects of finally ending their ICC trophy drought.
“Long as you hit first. I think they’ve been a little more conservative in previous World Cups, maybe just trying to find their way in a game. They are such a good team, I actually feel that they can afford to even do something a little bit out of the box in the beginning of a game to get the momentum because there is no way (of stopping them) once they gain momentum,” de Villiers added.
AB de Villiers’ suggestion to allow Virat Kohli to bat at No. 3 comes from a deep understanding of cricket and how Kohli best operates within this construct. Whether the call is heeded by the Indian management remains to be seen, but it brings to life the whole idea of looking for ways in which a team can produce match-winning performances, which is key to hoisting silverware at the T20 World Cup 2024.
Also Read: Disclosing Pakistan’s T20I Excellent Squad for Ireland and England on Thursday
About the Author
Faria has an excitement for making convincing substance. She brings an excitement for creativity to each endeavor that she undertakes. With a bare essential dedication to brightness, she lowers herself in asking to tell enthralling stories. She’s focused on unbelievable longings and making a persevering impression with each piece that she makes.
