Former legendary South African player AB de Villiers said that Virat Kohli can be the perfect No. 4 option for India in the ODI World Cup which will take place later this year as he feels Kohli has the ability to shift gears and play according to the situation as well. However, the veteran has been great friends with Kohli over the years and they also played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore together. He also understands that Kohli’s best comes at No. 3 as well.
In a video on his YouTube channel, AB de Villiers said: “I would be a big supporter of that. I feel Virat is the perfect No. 4, can keep the innings together and play any kind of role in the middle order. I don’t know whether he would like to do that role. But at the end of the day, if the team needs you to do something and play a role, you got to put your hand up and go for it.”
However, AB de Villiers feels India and Pakistan are the two favourites for winning the Asia Cup 2023. He also understands the threat that defending champions Sri Lanka could bring and also expects other teams to pull off an upset in the tournament as well. He shared: “Pakistan and India are the favorites to win the Asia Cup. However, Sri Lanka have the ability to upset the bigger teams.”
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Meanwhile, AB de Villiers also added young sensation and compatriot Dewald Brevis will not be known as ‘Baby AB’ for long as he carves his own niche in the IPL and world cricket as well. However, Brevis made headlines during the U19 World Cup in 2022 and since his jersey number, as well as playing style, was similar to De Villiers, he is termed as ‘Baby AB’.
“He was referred to as ‘Baby AB’ before, we have worked together and he has No. 17 on his back so the press had a ball playing with that. But he would like to make up his own name which I absolutely love. He is a strong character and I don’t think he would like to be called Baby AB.”He will find his own nickname down the line as he plays more IPL games. The Indian public will give him his nickname eventually,” AB de Villiers said.
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“I am in touch with Brevis on a weekly basis and have worked with him before. Never expected him to jump this quickly, but very excited to see him in the Proteas squad. It’s a huge breakthrough. I hope he gets game time. We are working on helping him learn how to build an innings and how to not always be in fifth and sixth gear. He is always in a hurry and likes to go after the bowlers which I love. But you need to balance it out. There’s always a time and a place. I want consistency from Brevis and he has got a golden opportunity now that he is in the South African squad,” he concluded.
