India will begin their T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8s stage with a match against Afghanistan in Barbados on June 20th and former South African cricketer AB de Villiers urged the Rohit Sharma-led side to do this one thing to succeed and go all the way.
The Indian team concluded their group stage with an impressive record of three wins in three matches against Ireland, Pakistan, and the USA in Group A, while their final match against Canada was abandoned due to rain.
India's major goal is to break their ICC tournament championship drought, with their most recent victory coming in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013, following victories in the T20 World Cup and 50-over World Cup in 2007 and 2011, respectively.
In recent years, India has gone close to winning competitions, reaching the semifinals and finals, but has continuously failed in the summit clashes.
AB de Villiers believes that for India to emerge victorious in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup, they must adopt an aggressive approach and "throw the first punch" in their matches.
"Just make sure you throw the first punch. In the past World Cups, I think they have been a bit conservative, sort of feeling their way into a game. They are such a quality team that I feel they can take a bit of a risk early in the game to get the momentum because there is no looking back once they get the momentum,” De Villiers said on his YouTube channel.
Meanwhile, De Villiers also spoke on Virat Kohli’s batting position in the Indian XI. Kohli has been opening the innings with Rohit Sharma in this T20 World Cup, but has failed in all three matches and has just 5 runs in all.
In his three innings so far, he has scored just 1 run against Ireland, 4 against Pakistan, and a golden duck against the USA.
Virat entered the tournament following an outstanding Indian Premier League 2024 campaign with the bat for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, amassing 741 runs in 15 innings at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69, including a century and five half-centuries.
AB de Villiers, who played for a decade with Kohli in RCB, said that he always preferred Kohli batting at no.3, from where he can control the innings.
He said: "I have always said please bat Virat at number three. Especially in better wickets that they will play now, Virat is the go-to guy at number three. He can play the attacking game and also pull back and absorb the pressure if necessary. He is the best player in the world in the middle overs. I do not see any reasons (for opening)."
As India prepares to play matches in Barbados, Antigua, and Saint Lucia, Virat will be anxious to break his low-scoring streak and demonstrate his newfound style with a big innings in the West Indies.
