"The Game Needs You": Ravi Shastri Urges AB de Villiers To Come Out Of Retirement
Updated - 13 Oct 2020, 01:13 PM
India head coach Ravi Shastri has urged former South Africa batsman AB de Villiers to reverse retirement following his prolific knock for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Monday. Man-of-the-match AB de Villiers played a whirlwind knock 73 runs off 33 deliveries to help RCB post a total of 194/2
De Villiers had surprised one and all by announcing his retirement in 2018. His decision came as a shock to the cricket fraternity who had least anticipated about the decision. However, he had made himself available to make a return ahead of the 2019 World Cup but was restricted as the final squad was picked up by then.
What one saw last night was unreal: Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri was in awe of De Villiers’ performance against RCB on Monday. Shastri took to twitter and said that the performance was unreal and the game of cricket needs a player like De Villiers to be back in international arena. He also added that the game will be better off with his presence.
“Now, that the penny has dropped. What one saw last night was unreal. And the feeling is the same waking up. @ABdeVilliers17, 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.
Now, that the penny has dropped. What one saw last night was unreal. And the feeling is the same waking up. @ABdeVilliers17, 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 #RCBvKKR #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/s9BG6MxiCv
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) October 13, 2020
Opting to bat, Aaron Finch and Devdut Padikkal got RCB to a good 67-run stand before the latter was sent packing for 32 runs. Finch played his part quite well but dismissed three-short of his half-century. Later, Kohli and de Villiers took matters to their own hands and helped RCB register a challenging total of 194 runs.
RCB have got to a good start in the IPL 2020 and are in contention to qualify for the playoffs. The Bangalore franchise have the record of reaching three finals. RCB entered the final match last time in 2016 but since then they have been at the bottom of the table. Moreover, in 2019, the franchise finished last with just 5 wins from 14 matches.
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IPL IPL 2020 Ravi Shastri RCB
