AB de Villiers calls Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli's recall for T20Is a 'smart move'

Former South Africa batter and captain AB de Villiers has backed experienced India batters playing in the 2024 T20 World Cup and said bringing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back for the T20Is after over a year is a smart moveStar opener Rohit Sharma and batter Virat Kohli returned to Indias squad for the IND vs AFG T20I series with the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI on Sunday revealing a 16player roster for a threematch T20I series starting on January 11The senior duo made a comeback to Indias T20I setup for the first time since the end of the T20 World Cup 2022 and ahead of this years T20 World CupI am not surprised I am happy for both Rohit and Virat You want to take your best team to the World Cup I can understand the criticism regarding the youngsters who will miss out after playing all this while I was in this position at the backend of my career it did not work out for me like it did for Virat and Rohit It is a right and a smart move to get your experienced players who have been there and done that to play in the 2024 T20 World Cup De Villiers told the mediaHe also said that Virat has found a fine balance in his career and is able to spend time with his family well and it is something he admires He also said that it is important for Virat to keep his fire for cricket burning as his career progressesVirat grew up with cricket in his blood This is what kept him going At the end of my career my fire was burnt out and I called it quits It is important to keep that fire burning He has found a nice balance in his career has a family and spends time with them I could have done this better He looks happy on the field looks motivated and I wish him all the luck said the former batterAlso ReadWe dont need another deathOn Cape Towns Newlands pitch in the second Test between India and South Africa which ended in just two days De Villiers said that the venue is known for a lively dayone first sessionIt was normal to me Newlands is known for a lively dayone first session If you fight your way through it it gets easier You have to play positive cricket here Aiden Markram scored a century and those who played positively did well The gameplan was conservative from both teams on day one It was wrong You have to take on the bowlers If you let them bowl to you it will be difficult to survive he saidThe International Cricket Council ICC on Monday gave an unsatisfactory rating to the Newlands pitch in Cape Town following a lowscoring second Test between India and South AfricaThe decision was made under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process following the shortestever completed Test match with 642 balls bowled in totalOn a possible return to his Indian Premier League IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore RCB as a mentorcoach AB said I have not spoken to anyone nor has anyone contacted me If there is an offer on the table I will sign it as a friend not as a coach or mentor I would be happy to share my knowledge and experience with the players Maybe down the line we will get a more professional role but I am happy where I amde Villiers represented the side from 20112021 in 157 matches He scored 4522 runs at an average of 4110 He scored two centuries and 37 fifties for the side at a strike rate of over 158De Villiers also said that the ongoing SA20 season two which started on January 10 and will go on till February 10 looks primed for success and he is excited to be a part of it as a brand ambassadorOn his favourite SA20 team De Villiers said that it is Pretoria CapitalsI am a born and bred Pretoria boy I hope they do well and so do other teams Especially the youngsters of every team I want them to get the exposure they deserve This is a perfect platform and there is no better tournament to kickstart your career and get some eyes on you said De VilliersA total of six teams are participating in SA20 namely the Durban Super Giants Joburg Super Kings MI Cape Town Paarl Royals Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Pretoria Capitals Sunrisers Eastern Cape won the inaugural season beating Pretoria Capitals in the finals back in February last yearPretoria franchise has international talent including Rilee Rossouw Phil Salt Will Jacks Paul Stirling James Neesham and Anrich NortjeWith agency inputs