'Batting orders are overrated': AB de Villiers backs Gautam Gambhir's bold call, says white-ball line-ups must stay 'creative and floating'

India's ODI series win against South Africa has ignited a debate on batting flexibility, with head coach Gautam Gambhir and former star AB de Villiers advocating for adaptable batting orders. They believe that beyond the openers, players should be ready to bat anywhere to keep teams unpredictable and exploit game situations.
Shubman Gill with head coach Gautam Gambhir
NEW DELHI: India's convincing ODI series win over South Africa has sparked a fresh debate on batting flexibility in white-ball cricket — and this time, two of the sharpest minds in the modern game are on the same side.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Head coach Gautam Gambhir set the conversation rolling when he said batting positions in ODIs are “overrated”, except for the opening pair. “In a one-day format, you should know the template you want to play with,” Gambhir said after India sealed the series. “I've always believed that in white-ball cricket, batting orders are very overrated, except the opening combination.”
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His comment struck a chord with former South African superstar AB de Villiers, who delivered a powerful endorsement on his YouTube channel. “I do agree with him to a certain extent,” ABD began, before expanding on why the idea works. “I've always enjoyed a floating batting lineup in ODIs. But it's a fine line — you can't play around too much with players' roles. It's the top three, four to six, and then the tailenders. You can be creative with that: right-left combinations, game situations… it keeps teams unpredictable.” The analysis then turned into praise — and awe — for India's relentless form. “Winning 27 of your last 31 matches… in T20 cricket! It's incredible,” he said. “It tells you something is heading in the right direction. It's the depth of Indian cricket,” ABD added.
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That depth has created a selection dilemma of its own.Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma formed a red-hot opening pair after the 2024 T20 World Cup, but Shubman Gill's return pushed Samson down the order — or out of the XI. Captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted Samson had been outstanding at the top but stressed the team's structure is clear. “Other than the openers, everyone has to be flexible,” he said. “Sanju did really well when he opened. But Shubman played before him in the Sri Lanka series — he deserved that spot. Sanju was ready to bat anywhere from 3 to 6.” With Gambhir's philosophy now shaping India's approach — and ABD offering emphatic support — the message seems unmistakable: In modern white-ball cricket, rigid batting orders are out; adaptability and imagination are in.
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