5 Things India need to do to counter the AB de Villiers threat
360-degree playerThe word ‘Freedom’ doesn’t always have happy connotations. Ask the Indian bowlers who are faced with the herculean task of containing AB de Villiers over the next two months. The fastest batsman to 8000 and 7000 ODI runs is also India’s biggest probable nightmare ahead of a long series.He has already played a decisive role in the first T20I and given his experience in the IPL, he knows a lot of the grounds where India will play South Africa in the next two T20 matches, five ODIs and four Tests. AB de Villiers is called a genius for more than one reason.Firstly, he has popularised what is known as 360-degree hitting - which means he can hit any bowler to any part of the ground. He can scoop the fastest balls over fine leg, pull in front of square, cut late, drive gracefully, loft at will and flick the full balls.It helps that he was an amazing tennis player who ditched tennis for cricket but brought those wrists, legs and forearms. A more sublime footwork hasn’t been seen on the cricket field. Restraining him would be as tough as restraining an elephant running amok, a smart, smiling elephant that will delightfully unravel your attack, one piece at a time.However, plans have to be made and plans have to be executed if India have to bring the mammoth down. Here are a few pointers to what India might possibly want to do against the versatile batsman.
#1 Line and length
Like Bhuvneshwar Kumar pointed out in pre-series talks, if there is one thing AB de Villiers loves, it is a bowler who is confused with his line and length. No bowler can pull off, under consistent pressure, six experimental deliveries to perfection. The one delivery gone wrong will be punished.
It is, therefore, important to let De Villiers do the dancing and moving while sticking to a 3/4ths length on the fourth stump. This is a good line because it doesn’t give De Villiers the room to play his shots on the offside or the freedom to manoeuvre them on the onside.
He will still be able to score off them, but it will be that much harder. The more one can make De Villiers work for his shots and manufacture them out of good balls, the more are the chances to get him out.
You err in line and he will figure a way out to maximise the benefits. But, a tight ball is likely to confuse him about his options and that is half the win. If you are bowling in the slog overs, the length needs to be full and straight, something most Indian bowlers with the exception of Kumar still don’t get right. That could be a key area.