New Zealand’s recent 3-0 series sweep over India in the three-match Test series on Indian soil was a huge achievement in cricket history. This was India’s first-ever three-match Test series whitewash at home. And, Ricky Ponting heaped praise on New Zealand, who were missing star batter Kane Williamson as well.
“That’s a huge result,” Ponting said in the ICC Review. “One that I wasn’t expecting, to be honest, more so, when you look at it with Kane Williamson not being there. When you think about his (Williamson’s) record in the subcontinent, the sort of the rock and the leader that he’s been for that team. I saw a stat the other day about Virat, it said he’s only scored two (three) Test hundreds in the last five years. That didn’t seem right to me, but if that is right, then that is, I mean, that’s a concern,” Ponting said.
ALSO READ: “Shubman’s captaincy is very good” – Ravi Bishnoi on Shubman Gill
Having averaged more than 50 in Test cricket from 2016 to 2019, Virat Kohli has since undergone a poor form in the Test, scoring 1838 runs from 34 Tests at an average of 31.68, comprising two centuries as well.
In 2024, the veteran touched his career’s lowest Test average mark – 22.72 in six matches so far – since 2011, the year he also made his Test debut. In the latest ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings, Kohli moved out of the top-20 list for the first time in 10 years as well.
“There wouldn’t be anyone else probably even playing international cricket as a top-order batsman that’s only scored two Test match hundreds in five years. I’ve said it before about Virat, you don’t ever question the greats of the game,” said Ponting. “There’s no doubt, he’s a great of the game. “He loves playing against Australia. In fact, I know he loves playing against Australia. And as I said, his record (in Australia) is very good. If there’s a time for him to turn it around, it’d be this series. “So I wouldn’t be surprised to see Virat make runs in the first game.”
ALSO READ: Hardik Pandya shares happiness after winning back the love of fans
“I think the one thing it does probably say is it’s really starting to highlight India’s vulnerability against good quality spin bowling,” said Ponting. “It seems as though the skill of the modern Indian batsmen of playing spin is probably not what it used to be. Maybe because they’re playing on different wickets in India that are probably for the fast bowlers a bit more, maybe because there’s more high-quality fast bowlers in India now that they’re not playing as much spin bowling as they did.”
“Maybe it’s the IPL or how much IPL cricket they’re playing that the younger players are learning the game that way rather than the way that players did 15 or 20 years ago,” he concluded.
