AB de Villiers, the former South African batting sensation, is brimming with confidence in his nation’s prospects at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, set to kick off this Thursday. South Africa will embark on their campaign with an encounter against 1996 champions Sri Lanka at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday.

Speaking on Jio Cinema’s daily show, “AAKASHVANI,” de Villiers highlighted South Africa’s cricketing strengths, emphasizing their aggressive style of play and unwavering determination. He likened their approach to that of New Zealand, noting their proficiency in fielding and their ability to apply pressure on opposing batters.

De Villiers also pointed to the firepower in the South African lineup, featuring players like David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen.

Despite their strengths, de Villiers acknowledged South Africa’s weaknesses. He expressed concern about their recent performance, noting that they have not consistently held top positions in international rankings, which is typically a strong indicator of World Cup success. He specifically mentioned their struggles in the opening ten overs with the ball, a concern that Kagiso Rabada and company will need to address.

De Villiers stressed the importance of setting competitive totals with the bat, particularly given South Africa’s bowling challenges. He placed faith in Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma to provide solid starts, with support from Klaasen, Markram, and Miller—explosive batters with extensive IPL experience. Scoring 300+ runs consistently will be essential to South Africa’s success.