AB de Villiers back in SA squad for remaining ODIs

AB de Villiers had missed the opening three ODIs of the series owing to a finger injury he sustained during the third and final Test at The Wanderers in Johannesburg.

AB de Villiers of South Africa would look to bring back the winning momentum into the squad in the remaining ODIs against India. (File Photo)

Star batsman AB de Villiers returned to South Africa’s squad for the remaining three one-day internationals against India, giving a boost to the beleaguered hosts who have lost all their matches so far.

De Villiers has been added to South Africa’s squad for the remaining matches, but a call on his availability for the fourth match, to be held at the Wanderers on Saturday, will only be taken after he is assessed at Friday’s practice.

De Villiers missed the first three games of the six-match series with a finger injury he sustained during the Wanderers Test.

His inclusion was the only change to the existing squad.

“Having AB back is going to be a massive boost. He will bring confidence to the team and his leadership within the group will add a lot of value as well,” J.P. Duminy had said after South Africa lost the third ODI at Newlands by 124 runs.

The free-scoring de Villiers had bruised an index finger attempting to take a catch in the 63-run defeat in the third Test against the touring team here.

De Villiers has scored 9,515 runs in 225 ODIs at an average of more than 54 and a strike rate of 101.

He holds the record for the fastest century in the format, reaching the milestone off only 31 balls against the West Indies in 2015.

SA ODI squad : Aiden Markram (capt), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Khaya Zondo, Farhaan Behardien, Heinrich Klaasen (wk).