Shubman Gill is walking like a cat on the hot tin roof for his struggling T20I record in the ongoing year. In the ongoing year, the right-handed batter has collected only 263 runs in 14 innings of the shortest format at an average of 23.91 and a strike rate of 142.93, with the best score of 47 that came against Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2025.

Gill is yet to celebrate a single half-century in the T20Is of the year, which will put pressure on the Indian management to drop him, especially to bring Sanju Samson into the eleven, as the latter could provide the wicket-keeping option along with opening the batting. But the former South Africa captain, AB de Villiers, doesn’t accept the idea.

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“Come on!! Do me a favor. Shubman Gill has failed just once or twice, and we are already talking about replacing him. We have to be patient. They need someone like him because they have so many aggressive batters in the Indian batting line-up.” De Villiers said in his YouTube video.

Ab de Villiers offers unique idea to play Shubman Gill in T20Is

There had been calls to bring Yashasvi Jaiswal into the T20I set-up. The left-handed batter, who has notched up 723 runs in 22 innings at an average of 36.15 and a strike rate of 164.31 with the help of five fifties and one century at the best score of 100, has earned success. And de Villiers isn’t denying it either.

Watch the video here: 

Ab Devilliers backs Shubman Gill :

Gill has failed just once or twice & we are already talking about replacing him we have to be patient, we need someone like him, ICT is already full of aggressive batsmen I would rather shift Gill at 3 & bring jaiswal as a opener pic.twitter.com/9V2NM05Muc

— Ironix (@ironix269) December 13, 2025

“Yes, Yashasvi Jaiswal is one of the best players I have ever seen to play the game. So, there is a spot for him. I wouldn’t put him for Gill. I will probably have Gill at three with Jaiswal opening the batting.” The former Protea batter noted.

If India does bring Jaiswal at the top and drop Gill at number three, then it will be against Tilak Verma, who has also done everything right to retain his place. India’s third encounter against the Rainbow Nation in the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala on December 14 could prove to be a do-or-die clash for Shubman Gill.  

SA20 announced a star-studded commentary panel on Tuesday, December 9, for the upcoming fourth edition of the league. The panel features some of the most popular voices in world cricket, including South African legends AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn, England’s World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan, and South Africa-born superstar Kevin Pietersen. Morgan, who played in the first season of SA20, is now a regular expert with Sky Sports and will bring a fresh voice to the fast-growing T20 league in the rainbow nation.

Steyn, who was part of Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s support staff, will now move to the commentary box. He will join his former teammate and global fan favourite AB de Villiers, the brand ambassador of the tournament. The South African lineup in the commentary team is also very strong, with JP Duminy, Ashwell Prince, Chris Morris, and Vernon Philander joining the group.

Along with them, several respected global commentators will also be part of the panel. This includes Mark Nicholas, Mpumelelo Mbangwa, Kass Naido, Natalie Germanos, Mark Butcher, Nikhil Uttamchandani, Lesego Pooe, Motshidisi Mohono, and Kriya Gangiah, who will all lend their voices behind the mic.

Also Read -Watch: “Don’t make fun of…”- Ravi Shastri attacks Gautam Gambhir on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s ODI future

AB de Villiers and Mark Butcher will again be among the stellar cast of @SuperSportTV commentary and presenting team for #BetwaySA20 Season 4 🎙️

Read more 🔗 https://t.co/C338vW72Gj

— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) December 10, 2025

SA20 2025-26: Teams and Key Players Ahead of the Season

The 2025-26 edition of SA20 is set to kick off on Boxing Day, with defending champions MI Cape Town facing Durban’s Super Giants in the opening match at Newlands. MI Cape Town retained most of their core squad, except for Dewald Brevis and Delano Potgieter.

The Pretoria Capitals have rebuilt their team from scratch, signing players like Brevis, Keshav Maharaj, and Lungi Ngidi, while adding Andre Russell, Sherfan Rutherford, and Jordan Cox as part of their overseas lineup.

The Super Giants will have a new captain, Aiden Markram, along with star players Jos Buttler, Heinrich Klaasen, Noor Ahmad, and Sunil Narine in their squad. Johannesburg Super Kings strengthened their all-round options with Wiaan Mulder, while Paarl Royals added Sikandar Raza, Delano Potgieter, Kyle Verreynne, and Dan Lawrence to boost their batting depth.

The left-arm pacer of the Australian side, Mitchell Starc, has picked his three favorite and best players with whom he shared the dressing room. He made a special mention of the former national team captain, Ricky Ponting, with whom he was amazed to be part of the team, even for a small period.

Starc started with the former South Africa captain and the wicket-keeper batter, Ab de Villiers, who was part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) when Starc shared the dressing room for a couple of seasons. He reflected on sharing a good friendship with him.

See Also: Watch: “Doubted me…?”- Ravichandran Ashwin decodes Virat Kohli’s fierce celebration in IND vs SA ODI series

“I am going to start with AB de Villiers. Didn’t spend a lot of time, but I was there for a couple of years in IPL in the same team. Got to play a lot against him, but it was really fortunate to play a few seasons with him at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and built a friendship and relationship with him.” Starc expressed in a video that has gone viral on social media platforms.

Watch: Mitchell Starc picks Virat Kohli among his three best cricketers he has played with in his career

Starc has hit the headlines currently with his 10-wicket haul in the opening Ashes 2025/26 Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth, besides collecting six wickets in the second fixture at the Gabba in the day-night pink ball Test.

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“Number two is Steve Smith. I have spent almost the same period and most of the time with Steve, and I am very fortunate to play with him for most of the same teams. It’s lucky that I didn’t have to play any professional cricket against him because he is such an amazing player for Australia and any color he takes into. His cricket knowledge has been amazing.” Starc is addressed in the video.

“Number one will be Virat Kohli. The same few years when I was with Ab, the one right next door was Ab. To get to see his preparation and the way he dominated was cool. He is another player with whom I had so many battles over the years, and it was really cool to work with him for a couple of seasons.” The left-arm pacer of Australia concluded.

South Africa created history by defeating India 2–0 in the recently concluded Test series, producing dominant performances in Kolkata and Guwahati. With this clean sweep, the Proteas became only the third visiting team ever to whitewash India in a home Test series, a feat that instantly elevated the stature of captain Temba Bavuma.

The series win triggered massive praise across the cricketing world, but one of the most significant endorsements came from South African legend AB de Villiers. Speaking on his YouTube channel, De Villiers admitted he was initially unsure when Bavuma was appointed Test captain during a turbulent phase in South African cricket. However, he now believes Bavuma has exceeded every expectation.

De Villiers reflected on Bavuma’s leadership journey, recalling the period when critics questioned whether his soft-spoken manner and smaller physical frame would hold up in high-pressure situations. “Maybe it comes back to that old phrase, ‘You can’t judge a book by its cover’,” he said. Drawing a contrast with Graeme Smith’s imposing aura, De Villiers noted that Bavuma has carved out his own brand of leadership through composure, clarity, and tactical maturity.

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De Villiers says Bavuma’s calm leadership mirrors MS Dhoni’s iconic captaincy style

What stood out even more was De Villiers comparing Bavuma to the legendary MS Dhoni, a captain revered worldwide for his calm temperament. “Temba is very, very small. He’s a soft-spoken guy and hardly ever raises his voice,” De Villiers said. “It’s similar for MS Dhoni. He hardly ever spoke loudly, but when he did, people listened. Different captaincy styles can still be very successful.”

Bavuma’s record certainly backs the praise. He has won 11 of the 12 Tests he has captained and remains unbeaten in the role. Earlier this year, he also guided South Africa to their first-ever ICC title, lifting the World Test Championship trophy after defeating Australia at Lord’s.

His composed batting effort in the first Test in India, played under immense pressure on a tricky pitch, further strengthened his growing legacy. With a historic series win and an ICC title already under his belt, Bavuma’s rise as a transformative Test leader shows no signs of slowing down.

India’s jaw-dropping 0-2 series defeat against South Africa at home has seen their head coach, Gautam Gambhir, being criticized massively under intense scrutiny. This is the second time the home side had been blanked in a red-ball series under Gamhir, following their 0-3 series defeat against New Zealand at home.

Highlighting Ravichandran Ashwin’s YouTube channel, the former SA captain, Ab de Villiers, reckoned that emotions might be at the heart of their current coaching debate. He offered a layered view of the head coach’s balanced concern and perspective.

See Also: Australia name 14-member squad for second D/N Ashes 2025/26 Test in Brisbane

“I don't know what GG is like when it comes to leadership. I've known him as an emotional player, and if that is the case in the change room, generally, an emotional coach is not a good thing to have. It's not to say he's that kind of a coach behind the scenes. There's no right and wrong. Some players feel comfortable with a former player, some with someone who's never played but has years of coaching experience.” De Villiers expressed in a YouTube video.

Ab Villiers reflects on Gautam Gambhir’s coach after 0-2 series defeat against South Africa

The remark instantly struck a chord in the cricketing world. Ashwin also shed light on how the players would need to apply themselves in the middle as the batters would be required to bat with the coach, who could only give them various suggestions.

“I absolutely loved playing under Gary Kirsten; he's a former player and similar to Gautam Gambhir. Some players find confidence with a former great being there — someone who inspires you to put in extra yards,” De Villiers noted in the video.

“We want to ask for responsibility. It’s easy, because in Indian cricket, you know it and I know it — there’s a lot to gain and a lot of money involved. So many people are ready to take the job, and there will always be people putting their hat in the ring. But the fact is, a coach cannot pick up the bat and go out to play. He can only do his job, talk to the players — that’s all.” Ashwin also addressed the video.

Indian T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav has made a heartfelt appeal to former South African star AB de Villiers for guidance on improving his batting balance between T20Is and ODIs. After leading India to victory at the 2025 Asia Cup, Suryakumar is currently involved in the T20I series against Australia but has admitted he has had difficulty making the transition from of his aggressive style across the two white-ball formats.

Speaking candidly about his batting challenges, Suryakumar shared his desire to connect with the Proteas legend to understand what worked for him during his career. “If I meet him soon, then I will like to ask him how he managed to balance his T20I and ODI game. I haven't been able to do so. I thought ODIs should be played like T20Is. I want to ask him what he did to be successful in both the formats,” said Suryakumar during an interview with journalist Vimal Kumar.

The Indian skipper added a sincere plea: “AB, if you are listening to this, please get in touch with me quickly because there are important three-four years lying ahead for me. I’m very keen on playing ODI cricket also. Please help me! I couldn’t balance T20Is and ODIs.”

Suryakumar Eyes Comeback in ODI Cricket

As of November 4, Suryakumar Yadav has played one Test, 37 ODIs, and 93 T20Is for India. While getting a spot in the Test team looks difficult, he still hopes to make a comeback in ODI cricket. The 35-year-old last played an ODI in the 2023 World Cup final, where India ended as runners-up

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In ODIs, he has an excellent strike rate of 105.02 but has only averaged 25.76, which isn't repeatable. With many talented players in India’s middle order, he will have to perform well in domestic matches to return to the national ODI team. His recent form has been mixed, he scored just 72 runs in six innings during the Asia Cup at a strike rate of 101.40. In the current T20I series against Australia, he started with a quick unbeaten 39, but managed only 25 runs in the next two games. The final two T20Is are scheduled for November 6 and 8, giving him another chance to rediscover his rhythm.

The former players, AB de Villiers, Sir Clive Lloyd, Matthew Hayden, and Harbhajan Singh, have endorsed the newly-launched format called Test Twenty, which is going to begin early next year.

It will be the fourth format after the ODIs, T20Is, and Test cricket in the sport, as the former, intended for the young players between the ages of 13 and 19, will see the teams playing four innings of twenty overs each.

The new cricket format, called Test Twenty, will be played in white shirts with the red ball and take place on a single day. Each side can take a four-over-long power play once in the entire game and can enforce the follow-on with a first-innings lead of 75 runs or more. A maximum of five bowlers may be used across the match, with one bowler able to bowl a maximum of eight overs.

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“We’ve combined Test cricket with T20 and fused them into a format that gives today’s generation what they crave, which is intensity with meaning. If you look around, there is not a single unifying platform to bring youth cricketers together. Every country has its own system, but you haven’t ever seen kids between 13 and 19 playing together as a part of a single franchise.” Gaurav Bahiravani, the architect of the format, expressed.

Cricket’s fourth format, Test Twenty, to be launched early in 2026

Lloyd, Hayden, de Villiers, and Harbhajan are members of the advisory panel. They felt that it would bring excitement among the youngsters to get into the innovative cricket format and improve their skills in the small form of the longest format.

“What excites me most is the real creative freedom that this format brings to the party. It lets players completely express themselves but also think differently and take the kind of risks that make cricket so beautiful. Beyond that, it also teaches balance. You need to have the ability to survive across two innings.”

The Test Twenty tournament will be held in India, although Bahiravani expressed the wish to take the league overseas in the following seasons. He also confirmed that even though only boys can participate in the first season, girls will be allowed to play from the second edition.

Former South African cricket star AB de Villiers has officially started a new cricket bat business named 360 Bats. He posted on social media, "It's official! So excited to launch my very own bat range—360 Bats. 360 cricket, all around the wicket, all around the world. Coming soon to stores across SA and India." The announcement quickly went viral across the world with cricket fans.

De Villiers, nicknamed “Mr. 360” given his capacity to hit from all angles of the ground, mentioned that the brand represents his style of cricket—fearless, creative, and with a lot of heart. The bats should be available soon in both India and South Africa, where he has played much of his career. India, in particular, remains special for him because of his long stay with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL, where he accumulated a very large fan base as one of the most loved overseas players.

The word is out. Reports indicate that the 360 Bats range is crafted to the highest standards of quality utilizing English willow in order to equip players with improved leverage, balance, and greater control on the field while batting. 360 Bats is on a mission to furnish premium-quality cricket equipment for professional suppliers and for youngsters who have a dream to bat like AB de Villiers. The reaction on social media to the news of the launch has already been overwhelmingly positive, suggesting that fans share De Villiers' passion to get youngsters batting like their hero.

The new bat series will be available in India and South Africa, the first official launch of De Villiers’ sports equipment brand. However, there are no further details about the time, prices, or stores. Fans are anxiously waiting for details about the bats' availability and where they will be sold in the near future.

It’s official! 🚨 Excited to launch my very own bat range — 360 Bats 🏏🔥

🔄 𝟯𝟲𝟬 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁, 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁, 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 🔄

Coming in stores across SA and India💥 #360Bats #PlayThe360Way pic.twitter.com/dWqQRRLsCL

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) October 6, 2025

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From the Crease to the Company

Since retiring from international cricket these days, ABD has taken the passion that he had for cricket on the field into a new venture in the business world. With 360 Bats, AB de Villiers continues to leverage his reputation and connection to the sport that has made him a global sports icon. In fact, the brand is a reflection of De Villiers' journey—from smashing sixes all around the field to being a key component in the tools and equipment that inspire youngsters to play the game.

With the launch of 360 Bats, De Villiers sends a clear message that although he has stepped away from the crease, he still adores and wants to contribute to the game in all the possible ways he can. 360 Bats will want to liberate youngsters to play their game developed through De Villiers' unique physical capabilities and skill set, all the while playing freely to assert themselves all around the world.

Former great of South African cricket AB de Villiers has expressed his regret over the turmoil at the conclusion of India's Asia Cup 2025 win, saying that “politics should never come before cricket.” In his weekly #360 YouTube show, de Villiers discussed the awkward trophy presentation where India would not accept the Asia Cup from the Asian Cricket Council president, who is also Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

The India vs. Pakistan tournament already had some controversy, as it was the first time the two rivals had met since the Pahalgam terror attacks. On the field, things were tense as Indian players refused to shake hands and Pakistan cricketers verbally sledged and brought up political contexts. After the match the trophy presentation made it even worse. India refused to accept the trophy, resulting in a weird situation where the team celebrated victory without the trophy, which Naqvi has still possesses days later.

AB de Villiers wants cricket to be separated from politics and also gave a nod to India’s showing

De Villiers – an all-time great – was concerned about how off the field disputes affect players. "Team India sort of weren't happy with who was handing out the trophy. As far as I'm concerned, that doesn't belong in sport. Politics should be aside. Sport is sport, and sport should be celebrating for what it is. It was quite sad to witness, but I'm sure they will get through that at some point. But it does place the sport, the players, the sportsmen, the cricketers in a very tough position, which is what I hate to see. It was quite awkward there at the end." 

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But, De Villiers was positive about India's performance. "So, let's get back to what's the most important thing, the cricket itself. India is looking really, really strong. Building up to that big T20 World Cup - don't forget, it's not too far away. And they look like they have a lot of talent, and they have good in the big moments and so fantastic," he continued.

For ABD, the event served as an important reminder of the perils of blending politics with sport - as doing so can detract from players’ accomplishments and taint the celebrations. The message reinforces the idea that cricket should be a pure contest of skill, talent, and sportsmanship, rather than catapulted into political arguments.

The spin all-rounder of the Gujarat Titans (GT), Rahul Tewatia, has made a shocking revelation on the best finisher of the Indian Premier League (IPL) history between the two successful players, MS Dhoni and Ab de Villiers, during a recent interaction. Playing as a finisher for Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans, he admitted the former Indian captain as his inspiration.

MS Dhoni, the fifth-time IPL winning captain, has an average of 34 and a strike rate of 175 from the 16th to the 20th over of his IPL career. Overall, the right-handed batter smacked 5439 runs in 242 innings at an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of 137.45, with the help of 24 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 84 runs.

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“When I was young, I used to play leg-spin and bat together. I used to watch Yuvi paaji [Yuvraj Singh]. He looked like a stylish batsman. When Mahi bhai [MS Dhoni] came, I started watching him a lot. I started understanding the game when I got a chance to talk to him. I used to watch Yuvraj Singh and Mahi bhai a lot.” Tewatia expressed during a recent interaction on CricTracker.

Rahul Tewatia picks best finisher of IPL history between MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers

Tewatia’s finishing skills are well known among IPL lovers. Whether his two sixes against Odean Smith or the five sixes against Sheldon Cotrell of the Punjab Kings, the southpaw has earned success at the number six and seven positions. In 77 IPL innings, the left-handed batter has clubbed 1112 runs at a strike rate of 137.11 with one fifty.

“Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) told me about how to finish matches and how to stay in the present. He told me not to think about the past and not to think about the future. That has helped me a lot.” The Haryana all-rounder leaked Dhoni’s suggestion.

The Ranchi-born is also IPL’s most successful captain with 136 victories in 235 games, besides leading the Yellow Army to a joint-record of five IPL titles. However, there is speculation on whether he would be available to feature in the 2026 edition of the league.