Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has urged India head coach Gautam Gambhir to keep away from extreme experimentation with participant roles, though he agrees with some facets of Gambhir’s strategy relating to batting order flexibility in ODIs. De Villiers stated he helps modifications primarily based on match conditions however believes there’s a restrict to how a lot a coach ought to tinker with outlined tasks.
AB de Villiers Advises Gambhir to Keep away from Overplaying with Participant Roles
De Villiers was responding to Gambhir’s current comment after India’s 2-1 collection win towards South Africa, the place the top coach recommended that batting orders in ODIs are sometimes overrated and gamers have to adapt to versatile roles other than the opening pair.
“I feel in a one-day format, you must know the template that you just wish to play with. I’ve all the time believed that in white-ball cricket, batting orders are very overrated, besides the opening mixture,” Gambhir stated within the press convention.
De Villiers, nevertheless, feels flexibility is beneficial solely to a degree. He stated that whereas a coach may be inventive with floating roles, they need to keep away from disrupting the stability of the facet by shifting gamers too usually.
“I do agree with him to a sure extent. I’ve all the time loved a floating batting lineup in ODIs. However it’s a positive line as a result of you may’t actually mess around an excessive amount of with the gamers’ roles. It is the highest three, 4 to 6, after which your tailenders who can maintain the bat. It is nearly like three segments, and you’ll actually be inventive with that. Play with proper and left-hand mixtures and sure conditions of the sport,” the 41 yr outdated outdated stated.
Sequence Recap: India Dominate with 9 Wicket Win
India secured the collection after a commanding victory within the third ODI on December six on the Occasion Centre. South Africa posted 270 earlier than being bowled out, however India chased the goal comfortably at 271 for one, sealing a 9 wicket win.
De Villiers Applauds India’s T20 Consistency Forward of World Cup
De Villiers additionally praised the Indian T20 crew for sustaining spectacular consistency with the T20 World Cup 2026 approaching.
“It has been unimaginable, particularly for a T20 format. It is probably the most risky format of the three, and to have that sort of consistency tells you there should be one thing occurring that is not off course. I feel it is acquired to do with the depth of Indian cricket,” he stated.
India Start T20I Sequence with a Huge Victory
India opened the 5 match T20I collection with a spectacular win over Aiden Markram’s South Africa. Hardik Pandya smashed an unbeaten 59 off 28 balls to assist India put up 175 for six. The bowlers then produced a ruthless show, dismissing South Africa for simply 74 in 12.3 overs, their lowest ever T20I rating. India clinched the match by 101 runs at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, with Pandya named Participant of the Match for his all spherical present.
The second T20I will likely be performed on December eleven at Mullanpur in New Chandigarh.