Former Australian skipper, Ricky Ponting has urged Indian team management to continue having Virat Kohli in the T20 World Cup 2022 squad, saying that he would fear playing an Indian team with the star batter in it. Kohli’s struggles in international cricket have been pretty evident in recent times with his poor run of form raising questions about his spot in the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia.
However, Ricky Ponting has urged the team management to back the star batter for the tournament. Speaking on the ICC Review, the Australian great said that Kohli can still make a significant impact for the team and, as an opposition player, he would fear playing an Indian side that has the batting star in it.
Elaborating the same, Ricky Ponting said, “I think if I was an opposition captain or an opposition player, I will be fearing playing an Indian team that has Virat Kohli in it, more than I would be one that doesn’t have him in it. I know there have been some challenges for him, it’s been a difficult time.”
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He further explained, “But every great player that I have seen in this game has been through it at some stage, whether that’s a batsman or a bowler, they have all been through it. And somehow, the best (players) find a way to rebound and respond, and it’s only a matter of time before Virat does that.”
Ponting also said that if India decided to exclude Virat Kohli from the t20 World Cup squad, there might not be a way back for him.
Ricky Ponting elaborated, “If you leave Virat out of the eve of the World Cup, and someone comes in and has a good tournament, it will be hard for Virat to get back in it. If I was India, I will keep pushing with him, because I know the upside. If they actually get him back confident and play as well as he can, that upside is better than most. So I think if I was a captain or a coach around the Indian set up, I will be making life as easy as possible for him to feel as comfortable as possible.”
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The former Australian captain also advised the Indian selectors to find a spot for Kohli in the top order and give him chance at the position for the entire duration of the T20 World Cup.
Ricky Ponting concluded, “Early in the tournament, for a first-round game, (it’s important to) get him in nice and early, among the runs, and then hopefully by the end of the tournament you’ll have Virat Kohli back at his best.”
