AB de Villiers Criticizes Shikhar Dhawan’s Decision About Kagiso Rabada in IPL 2024 Match

Former South Africa cricket captain, AB de Villiers, expressed strong disapproval towards Punjab Kings captain, Shikhar Dhawan‘s strategic decisions regarding the use of Kagiso Rabada in a recent IPL 2024 match against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium.

In the tense battle, Punjab Kings defended a target of 176 runs, with Rabada making early breakthroughs by dismissing RCB‘s Faf du Plessis and Cameron Green. However, a captivating innings by Virat Kohli threatened PBKS, with left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar also chipping in with crucial wickets.

Despite Rabada’s early impact, Dhawan opted to exhaust the South African speedster’s quota within the first 14 overs, a move that De Villiers strongly criticized, citing the necessity of Rabada’s presence in the death overs to contain the opposition’s run flow.

Recognized as a vital asset in the later stages of the game, Rabada’s absence in the slog overs proved costly for Punjab Kings as RCB, led by Kohli, powered through to a victory with well-timed strikes from Anuj Rawat and Mahipal Lomror.

Post-match analysis saw De Villiers voicing his disagreement with Dhawan’s decision, labeling it a ‘big mistake’ that could have potentially altered the outcome of the match in Punjab Kings’ favor. Former PBKS coach and Indian cricket legend, Anil Kumble, suggested that a more effective performance by leg-spinner Rahul Chahar might have influenced Dhawan’s strategic choices.

The captivating clash between PBKS and RCB ended with both teams securing two points each after two matches in the ongoing IPL 2024 season, setting the stage for an intriguing campaign ahead.