Former RCB batter AB de Villiers shared that while Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir was under the scanner for losing back-to-back T20I series, it could be a ‘wake-up’ call for the players as well. While he added that Gambhir would be held accountable, the Indian batters, who scored centuries of runs in the IPL, would know that they would have to adapt to different conditions in international cricket as well.
“Lots to worry about in the T20Is. Lots of eyes and fingers will be pointed at Gambhir. Yes, he needs to take ownership of how this team will move forward. He’s got all the credentials to do so. Maybe this was not a bad thing to get a bit of a wake-up call. Bring those players who have scored a lot of runs in the IPL a little bit down to earth again. Let them understand that this is international cricket. You need to have more than one or two gears. You cannot play in the fifth gear all the time,” AB de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.
“It was tough to watch India going down 4-0. I did not see that coming. But also not completely unexpected because of the lack of experience and that is the word that comes to mind. The leadership becomes all the more important. I know there’s a lot of fingers pointed to Gautam Gambhir. It is not only him. He plays a huge role. But you will have to be patient with the make-up of that team. You don’t just get a new Bumrah, Virat, or Rohit overnight. It takes time. I think they could have played better and should have been more consistent. I felt they lacked a game plan at times,” he again stated.
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AB de Villiers also applauded star batter Virat Kohli for the way he dealt with different conditions, stating that it is an example for youngsters to take lessons from as well.
“Virat’s recent form in ODIs, the scores speak for itself. It will be exciting to watch. He’s in scintillating form. He loves playing in the UK and loves that kind of challenge. That is a great example for the young batters coming through. Look at how he deals with different conditions. He can also be explosive in the IPL, but he does not keep it that way. Maybe it is a message to England in the Test format as well, to the batters,” he said.
“Virat is the best in the world I have ever seen to adapt to different situations and conditions. He understands the flow of the game. You cannot just always play one dimensionally against the best bowlers, as they will figure you out and find a way to work you over,” AB de Villiers concluded.
