The Risk Factor: AB de Villiers’ Views on Virat Kohli Opening in T20 World Cup 2024

On Wednesday, May 22, AB de Villiers offered his professional assessment of Virat Kohli’s place in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Many people have predicted and suggested that the in-form batter Virat Kohli will open the huge event in the USA and West Indies starting on June 1 based on his opening in the IPL 2024.
 
With nearly 700 runs at a strong strike rate, Kohli is leading the Orange Cap competition in the IPL 2024. The cricket community is divided over his bravery as an opener; others, like former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, believe India should promote Kohli to start the World Cup.
 
However, AB de Villiers, Kohli’s former RCB teammate, thinks Kohli ought to stick with batting at number three. In white-ball international cricket, Kohli has a track record of success at number three, and the renowned South African thinks the Indian player is most suited for that position.
 
AB de Villiers told PTI, “I think he’s a number three batsman, and that’s where he’s most impactful.” “Everywhere he goes, he practically seems to be the captain of the batting team. He maintains the batting unit’s poise and serenity.”
 
With his aggressive style of cricket, Kohli has taken the IPL 2024 by storm, while Yashasvi Jaiswal has struggled to be consistent. In the first 15 innings of the IPL 2024, Kohli has already smacked 38 sixes thanks to his excellent strike rate as an opener.
 
However, if I were playing an Xbox game or TV game, he would rank third on my team. I believe that asking Virat to take the game on and hit the ball in the air would be risky given the first few overs. I want him to bat anywhere between overs 4 and 16–17, that’s all. That, in my opinion, is where he excels the greatest and has the biggest impact on the globe,” de Villiers continued.