People in India just always try to find a reason why he’s maybe not as good as some of these other guys in T20: Ricky Ponting
Despite Kohli's stellar track record, questions linger about his suitability for the fast-paced format. However, according to Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting, such doubts are unfounded.
In the world of cricket, few debates are as persistent as the one surrounding the inclusion of Virat Kohli in India’s T20 International squad. Despite his stellar track record, questions linger about his suitability for the fast-paced format. However, according to Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting, such doubts are unfounded.
Ponting, known for his astute cricketing acumen, has hailed Kohli as a quintessential big-match player. In a recent statement to the International Cricket Council (ICC), Ponting expressed his bemusement at the ongoing debate, emphasizing Kohli's indispensability.
“He (Kohli) is the first pick for me for India. So, class and experience like that, you can’t replace,” Ponting told ICC, debunking any notions of Kohli's decline in T20 cricket. “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."
Kohli's current stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL 2024 further solidifies his prowess. As the leading run-scorer in the tournament, with a staggering 708 runs under his belt from 14 innings, Kohli's dominance is undeniable. Despite facing criticism for his strike rate, Kohli's adaptability shines through, boasting his best IPL strike rate yet at 155.60.
Reflecting on Kohli's pivotal role in crucial matches, Ponting referenced his match-winning 82 against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup. Kohli's ability to deliver under pressure underscores his value to the Indian team, particularly in high-stakes encounters.
“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,” Ponting said.
While Kohli has predominantly batted at number three for India, Ponting predicted a potential shift to opening alongside Rohit Sharma. However, the emergence of young talent like Yashasvi Jaiswal presents a conundrum for the selectors. Despite the evolving T20 landscape favoring high strike rates over lengthy innings, Ponting believes Kohli's adaptability and experience make him an invaluable asset.
“They (selectors) have still got a decision to make (on the opening pair) because (Yashasvi) Jaiswal is in that squad and one thing they haven’t got a lot in their team is left-hand batters,” Ponting said.
“So they’ve got a decision to make with Jaiswal (batting position), but I’m pretty sure that they’ll go with Kohli and Rohit Sharma (as openers). He can play his role at the top. And if you’ve got the right guys around him scoring (like) Suryakumar (Yadav)… Rohit Sharma’s going to have a high strike rate. These other guys can go in there and play their way,” he added.
“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,” Ponting said.
“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,” he added.
As teams recalibrate their strategies to align with the evolving demands of T20 cricket, Kohli's prowess remains a constant. With Ponting's resounding endorsement, the debate surrounding Kohli's T20 credentials may finally be put to rest.
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