Ponting suggest Newrole for Virat at T20 Worldcup, Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has shared his insights on different roles for Virat Kohli in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Also, he has made his predictions regarding who might be the first player selected in India’s Playing XI for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. He has shared his thoughts on where the star right-hander should bat.
Although the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is approaching, there is significant buzz around the selection and strategies for the Indian cricket team ahead of their first match against Ireland in New York on June 5.
Virat Kohli has been in exceptional form as an opener for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2024, amassing a tournament-best 708 runs from 14 innings.
Although Virat is a great opener, still questions have been raised about his strike rate at the top of the order.
Australia legend Ponting, a three-time ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup winner, acknowledges the evolving importance of strike rates over averages but maintains that Kohli remains crucial to India’s success.
Ponting told the ICC,
“The mantra I think for the teams three or four years ago, was making sure that someone at the top of the order made 80 or 100, even if it took them 60 balls, it didn’t really matter.”
“I think it’s sort of shifting now to be more of a strike rate-based game where you can have a massive impact on a game with a 40 off 15 balls rather than getting an 80 off 55 balls sort of thing.”
While Virat has predominantly batted at No. 3 for India in T20Is, Ponting believes the 35-year-old should open the batting alongside skipper Rohit Sharma at the T20 World Cup.
Ponting also said,
“They (selectors) have still got a decision to make because (Yashasvi) Jaiswal is in that squad and one thing they haven’t got a lot in their team is left-hand batters.”
Ponting suggest Newrole for Virat at T20 Worldcup
“So they’ve got a decision to make with Jaiswal, but I’m pretty sure that they’ll go with Kohli and Rohit Sharma (as openers).”
Ponting is confident in Virat’s ability to deliver on the biggest stage at next month’s T20 World Cup 2024.
“It’s funny with Virat. I think people in India just always try to find a reason not to pick him or a reason why he’s maybe not as good as some of these other guys in the T20 game,” he said.
Kohli was the leading run-getter at the last Men’s T20 World Cup, playing crucial innings such as his 82* against Pakistan and 50 against England in the semi-finals. Ponting emphasized Kohli’s ability to shine in big matches.
“I remember having this chat and some other chats I did for the ICC about there’s some talk about Virat not being in their team only last year, but what happened when the big games come around, he was one of the guys who got the job done.”
“You can’t replace class and experience like that of Virat Kohli.”
India Squad for T20 World Cup
Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj.
(Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan)
India probable Playing XI for T20 World Cup
Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj.
India T20 World Cup 2024 Schedule
India vs Ireland – Wed, 5 June 2024 – New York
India vs Pakistan – Sun, 9 June 2024 – New York
USA vs India – Wed, 12 June 2024 – New York
India vs Canada – Sat, 15 June 2024 – Florida
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