AB de Villiers suggested that India should move Virat Kohli to the No.3 position in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2024. Despite Kohli, who is 35 years old, winning the Orange Cap for being the top scorer when he opened in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, he has struggled in the multi-nation tournament held in the Caribbean and the United States. In three games, Kohli has managed just 5 runs off 9 balls, averaging 1.66 and a strike-rate of 55.55.
Kohli aims to improve his performance when India faces Afghanistan on June 20 at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. De Villiers, Kohli’s teammate at RCB in the IPL from 2011 to 2021, believes Virat is one of the best at handling pressure during the middle part of the game.
“I’ve always suggested that Virat should bat at number three. Especially on the good pitches they’ll play on now, Virat is the best choice for that spot. He can play aggressively and also slow down and handle the pressure when needed. He’s the top player in the world during the middle part of the game. I don’t see why he should open,” De Villiers explained on his YouTube channel.
De Villiers thinks India should be more aggressive to end their streak of not winning an ICC trophy since 2013.
“Make sure you start strong. In past World Cups, they’ve been a bit cautious, easing into the game. They’re a great team, so I believe they can take some early risks to gain momentum, because once they have it, they won’t slow down,” De Villiers said.
In the current T20 World Cup, India hasn’t lost yet, winning 3 out of 4 games against Ireland, Pakistan, and the United States.
