South Africa great AB de Villiers has backed India’s decision to include both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in their T20I squad for the Afghanistan series. Virat and Rohit eturned to India’s T20I squad for the first time since the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. Their inclusion marks a significant development for the Men in Blue ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
“I am not surprised at all. I am very happy for Virat and Rohit. You want to get your best team out there to win the T20 World Cup. Yes, I understand the criticism out there that youngsters have been missing out and guys who have been playing all the time,” De Villiers was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI.
“I was in a similar position at the back-end of my career and it didn’t work out for me. It’s working out for Virat and Rohit and I think it’s the right move, a smart move as you want your experienced players to be out there and they have been there and done it before and they can try to win World Cup for you,” De Villiers added.
De Villiers also shared his thoughts on Kohli’s successful career, attributing it to the ideal balance Kohli has struck between his personal life and career, something De Villiers wished he had managed better towards the end of his own career.
“Virat grew up with cricket in his blood and that keeps him going. Same thing that kept me going and towards the end of my career when fire started burning out that’s when I called it a day. I think he has got a fantastic balance in his life with his family and spends a bit of time with them. He has started managing his career well which I could have done better towards the end of my career,” De Villiers further said.