Before their Super 8 match against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup, the Indian team management has been asked by former captain of South Africa, AB de Villiers, to start Virat Kohli at No. 3. The Rohit Sharma-led Men in Blue will take on Afghanistan in their maiden Super 8 match at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday, June 20, as part of the ongoing 20-nation competition in the West Indies and the USA. Prior to the match, de Villiers asked that India downgrade Kohli to No. 3 instead of starting him at No. 1 alongside Rohit Sharma.
India’s opening batsman in the current ICC tournament is Kohli. After leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to victory in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) with 741 runs as an opener and winning the Orange Cap, Virat Kohli was elevated to the top of the Indian order, forcing Yashasvi Jaiswal out. But in the three games he played at the T20 World Cup group stage, the 35-year-old could only muster five runs. Accordingly, ABD believes that Kohli is best suited for No. 3, where he excels at absorbing pressure throughout middle overs.
De Villiers made note of this on his YouTube channel: “I have always suggested, please bat Virat at number three. Virat is always the first choice at number three, especially on the better pitches they will now be playing on. In addition to playing the attacking role, he has the ability to retreat and take the heat when needed. In the middle overs, he is the greatest player on the planet. I fail to see any justification (for opening).”
The South African believes that in order to end their 11-year streak of failing to win an ICC trophy, Rohit and company should attack a bit more.
“Just make sure you throw the first punch,” ABD continued. They seem to have been a little cautious in previous World Cups, kind of feeling their way into a game. They are such a good squad that I think they can take a little chance early on to gain the upper hand because once they do, they won’t be able to lose it.”
In Group 1 of the Super 8s, India is paired with Australia, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
