2017 ICC Champions Trophy: CSA Declares AB de Villiers Fit For Do-Or-Die Clash Against India
Nov 2, 2023 at 3:43 PM
In a recent development, Cricket South Africa has confirmed One-day International skipper AB de Villiers is fit and raring to go against defending champions India, in the virtual eliminator on Sunday at The Oval during the ongoing 2017 ICC Champions Trophy.
It’s pertinent to note, de Villiers picked a hamstring injury against Pakistan at the Edgbaston during the fielding, before skies opened up to put curtains on the hopes of South Africa in their second game.
The 33-year-old Pretoria-born batting mainstay for the Proteas would be aiming to score bulk of runs for the side after undergoing fitness test which he has eventually cleared reported by Cricket South Africa itself.
In the high-profile clash, the right-handed batsman de Villiers would be eyeing giving his best – to score runs after failing to impress the side in first two Group A games as he has registered just four wins.
In Sri Lanka game, de Villiers was dismissed on four before he registered his first-ever golden duck in One-day Internationals on the bowling of left-arm orthodox spinner Imad Wasim in Birmingham, where Pakistan trounced the Proteas by 19 runs on Duckworth-Lewis Method, in rain-affected game on June 7.
While marshalling his troops against Pakistan after being restricted to 219 for 8 in 50 overs, De Villiers was witnessed clutching his leg before walking-off the field for a brief time.
As the reports are clear on de Villiers, there are slim chances of all-rounder Farhaan Behardien being inducted into the side.
It was Pakistan and then Sri Lanka which made the Group B interesting after registering emphatic wins over two quality sides in their second match respectively.
De Villiers, who’s wary of Team India, would like to use his resources well while showing the complete faith on some quality players in the Playing XI.
Last year, injury-marred de Villiers was nursing elbow injury, as he made the International return with not much of a success to his name.
It would be interesting to see how the Proteas contingent would face the quality slow bowlers of India, as Ravichandran Ashwin is highly-likely making his place, in the Playing XI — to deliver according to his expectations.
The wicket-keeper batsman de Villiers has featured in 221 One-day Internationals; he has been productive with the bat which saw him amassing 9,303 runs at an average of 53.77.
Known for his pyrotechnics and acrobatics, de Villiers has smashed 24 hundreds and 53 fifties that further saw him completing 173 catches and five dismissals to his name behind the stumps.
Here’s how Cricket South Africa (CSA), has confirmed availability of De Villiers for the crunch game:
The photo revealed, de Villiers was holding his cricketing gears while giving a thumps up that shows the batting sensation is working hard to face quality bowling up on June 11.
👍 from the skip @ABdeVilliers17. He's fit and ready to go for the match tomorrow #INDvSA #CT17 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/nX5SPAudGf
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 10, 2017