'Please bat Virat at...': Kohli's best friend makes simple request to Rohit Sharma & Rahul Dravid

The debate around Virat Kohli's batting position has intensified following another disappointing performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Kohli, who scored 24 off 24 balls during India's Super 8 clash against Afghanistan at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday, was dismissed by Rashid Khan after a poorly executed shot towards long-off.

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AB de Villiers' request to Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid

Amidst this ongoing discussion, AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli's close friend and former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) teammate, has voiced his opinion on the matter. De Villiers firmly believes that the No. 3 position is ideal for the former India captain. Kohli is currently opening the batting for India alongside captain Rohit Sharma. 

"I have always said, please bat Virat at number three. Especially on the better wickets that they will play on 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 reason for him to open," AB de Villiers stated in a video on his YouTube channel.

AB de Villiers further emphasized the importance of an aggressive approach early in the game. "Just make sure you throw the first punch. In 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," he added.

Despite Virat Kohli's failure with the bat, India won their Super 8 match against Afghanistan by 47 runs. India registered a commanding victory, extending their undefeated record against Afghanistan. Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya forged a crucial partnership with the bat to help India post 181/8 in 20 overs. 

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Indian bowlers led by Jasprit Bumrah then dismantled Afghanistan's batting attack, bowling them out for just 134 runs. Bumrah picked up a three-wicket haul, while Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav also contributed. India will now play against Bangladesh in their next Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2024 on June 22.