Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) may use their star batsman AB de Villiers as wicket-keeper for IPL 2020. The head coach Simon Katich said De Villiers could play the role to bring balance to the side.
The Proteas cricketer has experience of keeping wickets from international cricket. He has also taken the wicket-keeping gloves for RCB in the past. Bangalore has Parthiv Patel and youngster Joshua Philippe as the wicket-keeping options in the squad apart from the South African.
"Obviously we've had a lot of discussions around the makeup of our team. AB has kept wickets in South Africa before so I'm sure that will be a topic for discussion. But what is the right balance in these conditions will also come into play. He's got a huge role to play for us, given the number of performances over the years for RCB and South Africa," Katich said.
"We know he's a world-class performer and he's had a fantastic tournament, where he led his team to a win in the 3TC competition. He's coming in confident on the back of that and I'm sure, knowing his love for his franchise and playing with the players at RCB, he's going to be excited by this prospect. We'll see what happens with his job behind the stumps and with the bat."
Eyes are on Devdutt Padikkal, a famous name in the Indian domestic circuit. He played a big role in Karnataka's Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy wins recently.
"The decision was made prior to his domestic season (to retain Devdutt Padikkal). As a young 20-year-old batsman, the fact that he's a left-hander as well, he's obviously going to be a favorite. When it comes to the balance of the batting order you do like to break up left-hand, right-hand batting combinations so I think he's done everything possible to put his hand up and potentially make his debut in the IPL. Obviously now it's up to him to put his best case forward in the camp, we'll have some practice matches where I'm sure he will get an opportunity to play. He's an exciting young talent," Katich said.
