AB de Villiers wants Virat Kohli to bat at number three despite success as an opener

Former South Africa cricketer AB de Villiers wants Virat Kohli to bat at number three despite massive success at the top of the order in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2024. Opening the innings for RCB, Kohli had his second-best season in IPL scoring 741 runs from 15 innings at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69 and registered one hundred and five fifties.

However, despite his prolific run, his former RCB teammate feels that he’s best suited to bat at number three. Notably, Kohli and de Villiers have been involved in many memorable partnerships in IPL history including the highest-ever partnership in the tournament’s history of 229 (97) against Gujarat Lions in 2016.

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“He’s been phenomenal but I still believe he’s a number three batsman, “He’s the guy that knows his ability and his game plan is the best. So long may that continue. But if I had the say and if it was like a TV game and I could move him around he would bat number three in my team. I know that he’s enjoying the opening spot but from a team point of view, if I had to say, he would bat in number three,” De Villiers was quoted as saying by News18 CricketNext.

Further speaking ahead, de Villiers said that Kohli looks at his best when he isn’t going after the bowlers as he knows how to read game situation and find open spaces in the field.

“I just feel he’s the best in the world when he’s just playing normal cricket, when he doesn’t feel like he’s got to take the bowlers on, where he’s got to hit the ball in the air. Between over six and 20 or seven and 20, I feel that’s where he’s the best in the world by a country mile. There’s no one better than him to hit the ball into spaces, to read the game situation. I’ve been at the other end of the wicket witnessing that many times,” he added.

Kohli’s heroics at number three

Meanwhile, in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, Kohli is most likely to bat at number three, a position where he’s batted the majority of his white-ball career. In the 80 innings batted at number three in T20Is, the 35-year-old has scored 3076 runs at an average of 53.96 and a strike rate of 135.26 while notching up 32 fifties.

Kohli has had tremendous success batting at number three in the T20 World Cup being the leading run-scorer of the tournament having 1141 runs to his name from 25 innings. The batting stalwart will hope to continue his marvellous form in the upcoming tournament.