AB de Villiers agrees “to a certain extent” with Gambhir that ODI batting orders are overrated, emphasizing flexibility and defined roles.

New Delhi: Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers expressed agreement—”to a certain extent”—with India head coach Gautam Gambhir’s assertion that ODI batting orders are “overrated,” but emphasized the importance for teams to strike a balance between flexibility and well-defined duties.

Following India’s 2-1 ODI series victory over South Africa, Gambhir remarked that he considers batting orders to be exaggerated in the ODI format.

I concur with him to a certain degree. I have always appreciated a flexible batting order in One Day Internationals. However, it is a delicate balance, as one cannot significantly alter the players’ roles without caution, De Villiers stated on his YouTube channel.

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It comprises the top three, four to six, and subsequently the tailenders capable of wielding the bat. It is essentially divided into three segments, allowing for considerable creative flexibility.

Engage in the use of right and left-hand combinations and specific game situations. India secured victory in the opening T20I against South Africa, extending their winning streak to 27 wins in 31 matches.

Expressing his admiration for the Indian team, de Villiers stated: “It has been remarkable, particularly considering the T20 format.”

It is the most unpredictable of the three formats, and maintaining such consistency indicates that there must be underlying factors indicating progress in the correct direction.

“I believe it is related to the depth of Indian cricket,” stated de Villiers.