Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has said that Virat Kohli scoring a hundred against Pakistan in a high-pressure Champions Trophy 2025 match was not surprising, considering his reputation. He scored an unbeaten 100 in yet another successful run chase, as Team India won by six wickets at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, February 23 as well. However, this was Kohli’s 51st ODI hundred as well.

“I’ve always said big games equal big names. You need your big names to stand up in those big moments, and no bigger game for India than a game against Pakistan. Your reputation is forged in what you do in the biggest contests on the international stage. So it’s no surprise to me that that has happened,” Ponting said on ICC Review (via ICC’s official website). “And no bigger moment than last night when Pakistan had batted first on a tricky wicket. It needed someone at the top of the order to play a match-winning innings like that. And once again, it was Kohli to get the job done.”

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In the same interview, Ricky Ponting also said Kohli would like to end his career as the highest run-scorer in the 50-over format.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better 50-over player than Virat Kohli. Now that he’s gone past me and only two ahead of him, I’m sure he would want to give himself the best chance to be remembered as the all-time leading run scorer in the game. As long as the hunger’s there, obviously physical-wise, he’s probably as fit as he’s ever been and works exceptionally hard on that side of his game,” Ricky Ponting concluded.