Former South African batting sensation AB de Villiers has expressed his support for India’s strategic move to include Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the T20I squad for the upcoming series against Afghanistan.
The return of these experienced batsmen to India’s T20I setup marks a significant development ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
De Villiers, discussing the criticism around the selection of Kohli and Rohit, emphasized the importance of the T20 World Cup and the need for seasoned players in the squad.
On his official YouTube channel, he stated, “If Virat Kohli is good enough, he has to play. I don’t care whether he is managing his career a little bit because he is a touch older. But 20-year-olds will understand that the legendary Rohit and Virat are needed to help India win the T20 World Cup.”
Expressing his sentiments, de Villiers continued, “I think India has shown their intent by adding Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to their T20I squad. They’re clearly thinking about the T20 World Cup.”
Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian squad in the T20Is against Afghanistan, commencing on Thursday. The team composition includes Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson as wicketkeepers, with a mix of all-rounders such as Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, and Axar Patel. Leg spinners Ravi Bishnoi and Kuldeep Yadav, along with pacers Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, and Mukesh Kumar, form the bowling unit.
The batting lineup comprises Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, and other promising talents. Suryakumar Yadav, who led India in the T20Is in South Africa last December, is absent from the squad due to an ankle injury sustained during the third match in Johannesburg. He underwent ankle surgery and is expected to return to training in the coming months.