Former South African captain AB de Villiers has urged the West Indies batters to make big runs against India if they have to compete in the ongoing two-match series. WI opted to bat in the first Test match at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad and the visitors are currently struggling at 139-6.
AB said the tourists’ batters will have their work cut out against a quality Indian bowling attack and they must convert their starts to substantial scores. The former RCB batter said if the visitors can’t show resistance with the bat, they should pack their bags and go home.
There is no doubt that a beleaguered WI batting line-up will need to play out of their skins to challenge the Indian team.
AB de Villiers said on YouTube Channel, “Playing over in India, it’s never easy to bat guys, when you get yourself in, you really got to cash in and make it work, and I think that will be the focus for team West Indies because they know if they can get runs on the board, they can compete.”
“If the batters don’t perform over there, you might as well pack your bags and go home because the Indian bowling attack will take wickets, and they will put you under pressure. So, if you get those partnerships going, get the runs on the board to give your bowlers an opportunity to carry those catches around the bat, that is the name of the game for the spinners. Over there in India, you need to have your catches in place. That is the name of the game for the spinners over there in India, you need to have your catches in place,” he added.
Meanwhile, AB said Roston Chase’s team has an outside chance and added that the tourists can take some confidence after New Zealand thrashed India by 3-0 in 2024.
“I remember last time this or this time of the year, last year, that is when New Zealand thrashed India 3-0 in a Test series. So, the Windies will maybe take a little bit of confidence from that. No one thought that India was beatable in India over the last 10-12 years, right?”
“They’ve been sort of invincible to certain extent, and New Zealand changed that, and maybe if West Indies analyse that very well, that will figure out a couple of areas of weakness that they can focus on. Finger spinners do exceptionally well there. I think that will be a big focus for the West Indies. They’ve got Roston Chase and a few others.”
WI will look to come up with a collective effort.
