‘Champion Players Always Find a Way’: Ricky Ponting on Virat Kohli’s poor form in BGT
Australia great Ricky Ponting has once again thrown his support behind out of form batter Virat Kohli.
In the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home, Kohli has managed just 111 runs across five innings with a high score of 44 during the first innings of the Delhi Test. Though in his defense the pitches used for the series haven’t been conducive for batters with Rohit Sharma the lone century-maker from either side so far.
Erstwhile, Ponting highlighted Virat Kohli’s struggle in the series and said he’ll be aware of his situation and would bounce back soon.
“For Kohli, I have said that over and over, champion players always find a way. He might be in a bit of a drought at the moment, might be not scoring runs which we all expect him to score but he is a realist as well. When you are a batsman and your are struggling and not scoring runs, you are pretty aware of that yourself. I am not concerned about this because I am confident he will bounce back.”
Ricky Ponting predicts potential change to India’s batting order
Ricky Ponting while speaking to ICC suggested India should consider a dramatic change to their batting order should they qualify for the ICC World Test Championship Final at The Oval in June.
Ponting knows conditions in England in June will be vastly different to what the teams are currently facing on the sub-continent and believes India should consider a change to their batting order should they reach the World Test Championship final.
Experienced right-hander KL Rahul was recently dropped for Shubman Gill at the top of India’s batting order, but Ponting thinks there is a way that both players can feature at The Oval.
“With someone like KL Rahul having gone out of this side and Shubman Gill having come in, both these guys have played a bit of Test match cricket and you could potentially have both of those guys in the same team,” Ponting suggested.
“Maybe Shubman could start at the top and KL could potentially move down into the middle order, because he’s played cricket in those (English) conditions before, albeit at the top of the order.
“But one thing we know about the UK is that the ball swings for long periods of time during the day. And if the overhead conditions are suitable, then the ball tends to swing right the way through an innings.”
With three Tests in the books, all eyes are on the fourth Test. The concluding match will start on March 9 and it will be crucial for India’s candidature for World Test Championship Final. If India wins they will enter their WTC final. Upon drawing or losing, Sri Lanka will enter the scene. Thus, with all to look forward to, Narendra Modi’s stadium will become a testament.
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