IPL 2020: The game needs you back – Ravi Shastri urges AB de Villiers to come out of retirement

The Indian team head coach Ravi Shastri has urged Royal Challengers Bangalore talisman batsman AB de Villiers to come out of retirement. AB was on a roll against Kolkata Knight Riders as he clobbered 33-ball 73 with the help of five fours and six maximums. It wasn’t the easiest of pitches to hit the big shots but AB de Villiers was in a different world.

The right-hander was able to hit the ground running after facing a few balls and he didn’t look back once he started to time the ball. The KKR bowlers had no answers to keep him at bay as he timed the ball to perfection.

In fact, it looked like RCB would only be able to get to a sub par of 150-160 but AB de Villiers’ blistering knock took them to 194 runs. It was unreal batting from the master as the rest of the batsmen struggled to get going. Even the great Virat Kohli could only manage 33 runs from 28 balls.

However, AB de Villiers was in a league of his own as he fired at full cylinder. Meanwhile, the former South African captain had surprisingly pulled the plug on his International career back in May 2018 when he said he was tired of continuing playing at the top level.

However, AB has been in constant touch with South African head coach Mark Boucher to make a return to the national colours. In fact, AB was expected to be part of the Proteas squad for the 2020 T20 World Cup. But as the T20 showpiece has been postponed to next year, AB doesn’t want to commit anything right now.

“Now, that penny has dropped. What one saw last night was unreal. And the feeling is the same waking up. AB de Villiers, the game in these trying times or otherwise needs you back in the international arena and out of retirement. The game will be better off,” Shastri tweeted on Tuesday.

AB would look to continue the same form going and it would be bad news for other teams if he continues to bat like this. RCB will next play KXIP at Sharjah on 15th October.