• Shastri calls for AB’s return

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    Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has called on AB de Villiers to come out of retirement and return to international cricket, saying ‘the game will be better off’ for it.

    Shastri took to Twitter following De Villiers’ spectacular knock of 73 off 33 deliveries in the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s 82-run victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday.

    De Villiers struck his third half-century of this year’s IPL campaign by going on an innings rampage that included five fours and six sixes.

    READ: AB’s masterclass sinks KKR

    In the post, Shastri wrote on Tuesday morning: ‘Now, that the penny has dropped. What one saw last night was unreal. And the feeling is the same waking up. @ABdeVilliers, the game in these trying times or otherwise needs you back in the international arena and out of retirement. The game will be better off.’

    De Villiers’ return to international cricket, and specifically the T20 format, has been headline news for some months now. Proteas head coach Mark Boucher is also apparently eager to have the destructive batsman back in the national set-up for next year’s T20 World Cup in India.

    WATCH: AB’s magnificent knock against KKR

    The 36-year-old last represented South Africa in the final Test match against Australia back in March 2018, before announcing his retirement from international cricket.

    He has, however, been playing in most of the T20 leagues across the world, including last year’s Vitality Blast in England and the Big Bash League in Australia.

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    Andre Huisamen