The approaching IPL 2024 auction has set the cricketing fraternity abuzz with speculations and strategic planning. In the lead-up to the auction, franchises have unveiled their retained and released player lists, with surprises and expected moves creating anticipation. Among the teams seeking their maiden IPL triumph, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) remains a prominent contender, boasting stalwarts like Virat Kohli. Despite the star-studded lineup, RCB has fallen short of clinching the coveted title.
One notable retention for RCB in IPL 2024 is Rajat Patidar, a top-order batsman who has also earned a spot in India’s ODI squad for the upcoming South Africa series. Although he didn’t feature in IPL 2023, Patidar left an impression in IPL 2022, amassing 333 runs in eight matches.
AB de Villiers, the legendary South African cricketer associated with RCB, recently shared his thoughts on Rajat Patidar. While praising Patidar’s skills, de Villiers also offered a piece of advice, emphasizing the need for more tenacity and a fighting spirit.
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“He is a wonderful player. I played with him at RCB for a few seasons when he was very young. He is getting more experienced now. Just a very solid guy, solid personality, solid attitude, and solid technique. He has got everything going for him,” remarked AB de Villiers in a video on his X account.
Adding a layer of constructive criticism, de Villiers encouraged Patidar to infuse more grit and fighting spirit into his game, noting that his amiable nature could potentially be a drawback. Despite this, de Villiers expressed his admiration for Patidar’s batting prowess and predicted a bright future for the talented player.
Shifting the focus to the upcoming India tour of South Africa, de Villiers shared his excitement about Virat Kohli’s participation, particularly in the Test matches. Anticipating a charged and competitive performance from Kohli, de Villiers remarked on his eagerness to witness Kohli’s trademark confrontational style, including eye contact and verbal exchanges with opponents.
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“We will see the best of Virat. I cannot wait to see the chest out, the eye contact with the opposition, and being a bit verbal with everyone. Because he will be fired up for this series. South Africa will need to be careful. This Indian squad is pure world-class,” expressed AB de Villiers.
The tour kicks off with a three-match T20I series on December 10, followed by three ODIs starting on December 17. Kohli, exclusively part of the Test squad, is expected to bring his competitive edge to the longer format.
