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AB de Villiers for the Royal Challengers Bangalore
India coach Ravi shastri on Tuesday he urged the South African batter Villiers AB to come out of international retirement after scoring an explosive 73 in the Indian Premier League.
The 36-year-old, who ended his international career two years ago, broke six sixes in a 33-ball blitz in Sharjah on Monday that set up a major victory for the Royal Challengers Bangalore over the Kolkata Knight Riders.
The former Proteas captain received praise, and Bangalore captain Virat Kohli called his teammate “superhuman.”
“What one saw last night was unreal”, Shastri wrote on Twitter.
In a direct appeal to De Villiers, Shastri added: “The game in these difficult times or otherwise needs you back in the international arena and out of retirement. The game will be better.”
De Villiers ended South Africa’s illustrious career in May 2018 after playing 114 tests and 228 one-day games with a batting average of more than 50 in both formats.
Reports surfaced that De Villiers wanted to come out of retirement and play for the national team at the 2019 World Cup, but a comeback never materialized.
Earlier this year, De Villiers hinted that he might return for the Twenty20 World Cup, scheduled for this year, which was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
His IPL form, three half centuries and a hit rate of over 185 in seven games, has added to talk of a comeback.
Now that penny has dropped. What was seen last night was unreal. And the feeling is the same when you wake up. @ ABdeVilliers17, the game in these difficult times or otherwise needs you to return to the international arena and come out of retirement. The game will be better #RCBvKKR # IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/s9BG6MxiCv
– Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) October 13, 2020
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