Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers has expressed his opinion on Virat Kohli’s batting position in T20Is. Despite Kohli’s recent struggles with the bat, de Villiers believes that Kohli should continue to bat at number three for India in T20 cricket. De Villiers sees Kohli as the glue of the team and a crucial link between the top and middle order.
AB de Villiers emphasized that Kohli has been a formidable threat while batting at number three and should retain that position. He acknowledged Suryakumar Yadav’s success at number three but raised concerns about pushing Kohli down the order.
While Yadav has claimed the number-one-ranked T20I batter spot, de Villiers believes Kohli’s experience and ability make him indispensable at the crucial number three position. The former South African captain highlighted Kohli’s effectiveness in stabilizing the innings and forming partnerships, making him a valuable asset for India.
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“I have a different opinion. For the most part of my international career, Virat batting at No. 3 was the biggest threat for us when we played against India. I’ve always felt like he was the glue of the team in the middle order. No. 3 is not quite middle-order, it is top-order. But he is so good that he often combined with the middle-order, even down to tailenders. It’s just impossible to play against that,” AB de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.
Expressing his worries about Kohli facing the new ball, de Villiers suggested that batting higher up the order allows Kohli to tackle the initial challenges with the new ball effectively. Despite Kohli’s recent form dip, de Villiers remains confident that Kohli’s batting prowess will make him a vital player for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
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As the debate continues regarding the optimal batting position for Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers’ perspective adds an interesting dimension, emphasizing Kohli’s historical success at number three and his crucial role in India’s middle order.
“With a new ball, facing the first few deliveries there, I just think that the chances of getting a good delivery up front are so much better. I’m worried about that position,” AB de Villiers said.
