De Villiers says it will be "fantastic" to play for South Africa again
Chennai, Apr 19: Versatile South African cricketer AB de Villiers on Sunday said it will be "fantastic" to make an international comeback ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in India in October-November.
"If I can slot in, it will be fantastic," de Villiers said after he played another match-winning innings for his franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL here.
The prolific batsman added he will be fine with it even if he is not able to make a comeback.
De Villiers, 37, said he is going to communicate with South Africa head coach Mark Boucher towards the end of the IPL.
"Last year I was asked and I said I am absolutely interested... with regards to my form, my fitness. We have to get the best 15 together, we will plan accordingly. I am speaking with Boucher towards the end of IPL," he added.
On Friday, Boucher had hinted at de Villiers' possible international comeback.
Boucher, a former South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman, has also revealed about the conversation he had with the RCB star ahead of the IPL 2021.
"I did chat to him before he went to the IPL," Boucher had said.
"The conversation is still very much open. AB being the person he is, he wanted to perform very well at the IPL, to prove to himself and everyone else that he is still a very key figure in world cricket and could dominate at that level," Boucher had said.
In May 2018, de Villiers had announced his retirement from international cricket. He played 114 Tests, 228 ODIs and 78 T20Is before announcing his surprise retirement after making a deep impact on across formats.
On Sunday, in the company of Glenn Maxwell, de Villiers again made batting look too easy on a pitch that was far from conducive for fluent stroke-making, as their team RCB beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 38 runs.
"I want to win games of cricket for my team, the coaches feel strongly about me, I am not too worried, whatever role is assigned to me I will do my best. I play the situation to the best of my ability.
"AT the moment I am floating between number five and six."
RCB scored 56 runs in the last three overs, including 21 in the final six deliveries, thanks to de Villiers 34-ball 76 not out.
Maxwell blazed away to 78 off 49 deliveries, hitting nine boundaries and three maximums before the genius from South Africa strode in and struck the same number of fours and sixes as his teammate from Australia.
Asked about the in-form Maxwell, who had looked clueless in the last edition of the league in the UAE, de Villiers said, "I think he looks happy, you just want to be in a good space, to feel confident about your own game. Maxi prepared really well, he just looks happy, he also had a string season.
"We chat in general but we can't tell each other what we are going to do playing at this level."
Asked about the RCB bowling, he said, "Lot of credit must go to (pacer and purple cap holder) Harshal (Patel)... I think about the seam attack, they are very clear about what they want to achieve, there are a lot of options.
"The guys seem to know exactly what they are supposed to do and I am very chuffed about that."
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EC reaction to Kharge's letter to INDIA bloc partners 'inappropriate and unwarranted', says Gehlot
Jaipur (PTI): The Election Commission's reaction to a letter by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge to INDIA bloc partners expressing concern over delays in releasing voter turnout figures for the first two poll phases was "completely inappropriate and unwarranted", former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said on Saturday.
The commission on Friday, in a response to Kharge's letter, called it an attempt to push a biased narrative under the guise of seeking clarifications.
In a post in Hindi on X, Gehlot said, "The language of the letter of the Election Commission, which came on the legitimate questions raised by @kharge ji, seems more like that of a political party than a constitutional institution. Instead of working with its responsibility, the Election Commission is seen standing with one party in these elections and that is creating doubts in the minds of the common people."
He added that such a reaction is not good for the Election Commission's image.
"It is surprising that the Election Commission is reacting to the internal discussions between parties but is not even taking cognisance of the complaints raised by the opposition parties to the Election Commission. In Rajasthan, the Congress filed more than 20 complaints but it did not even issue notices on them," Gehlot added.
Kharge on Saturday said it is surprising that the poll authority chose to respond to a letter he wrote to INDIA bloc leaders but ignored several other complaints he raised directly to it.
In a letter addressed to the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners, he said the poll panel is showing no urgency in dealing with "blatantly communal and casteist" statements being made by leaders of the ruling party.
Kharge, in his response, said it was an open letter clearly addressed to the Congress' partners and not the commission.
"It is surprising that the Election Commission of India wanted to respond to this letter while ignoring several other complaints given directly to it. I have certain misgivings about the language of the letter but I will not press on that issue as I understand the pressures they are working under," Kharge said in his letter to the poll authority on Saturday.
He said the poll authority's letter, on one hand, says the commission respects citizens' right to ask questions and, on the other, "threatens citizens in the form of an advise to exercise caution".
