South Africa’s hopes of winning their maiden T20 World Cup suffered a major setback as their talisman batsman AB de Villiers decided that his retirement decision will stay final and he will not come out of retirement. There were talks that AB might get back to the South African squad but head coach Mark Boucher revealed that the batsman didn’t want to take any player’s place in the team.
Meanwhile, AB de Villiers looked in sublime form while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League 2021. The right-hander scored 207 runs in six innings at an impressive average of 51.75 and a blistering strike rate of 164.28 before the tournament was called off indefinitely.
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra feels it will be difficult for South Africa to go all the way without the services of AB de Villiers.
“The chances of their progressing would have been better if AB de Villiers was there but if he is not there, it is impossible to get a player of his quality. The team still has good players but is it a team that can win the World Cup, I personally don’t think so,” said Chopra on his YouTube Channel.
Chopra feels it will be difficult for the Proteas to deliver the goods in the spin friendly conditions. The T20 World Cup could move to the UAE as it will be difficult to stage the tournament in India.
“This team can do well, trouble a few people and spoil other teams’ parties but they might not be able to win the World Cup because wherever it happens, whether in India or the UAE, I have my reservations with regards to their chances to win the tournament in these conditions,” added Chopra.
Chopra added that South Africa currently is not that great a team and they also have a history of not doing well in the ICC major tournaments.
“At this point in time, the team is not that good. Let’s be fair, don’t count them out. They are a good team, they fight but they are also a team that struggles at the end and chokes at times. They don’t really know how to close the big moments. That problem has been there with this team,” observed Chopra.
