New Delhi. Australian batting great Ricky Ponting believes that Virat Kohli’s wicket will be the focus of every Australian bowler in next month’s World Test Championship final as his confidence has increased a lot after a stellar performance in the IPL.
Speaking at a preview of the ICC World Test Championship final between India and Australia at The Oval in England from June 7, Australia’s most successful former captain said,;; A month ago during an IPL match in Bangalore, I spoke to Virat and he told that he felt he was back in his best form.
Kohli scored his sixth century in the IPL in the match played against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday and has so far scored 538 runs in 13 matches. Speaking at the unveiling of the World Test Championship mace, Ponting said,; I am sure all the Australian bowlers will be eyeing his wicket. The final match will be between India’s top order and Australia’s fast bowlers and will get the best of Test cricket.
He said that India will miss fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. They said ,;; Some players of the Indian team are injured. KL Rahul is no more and Bumrah will also be missed. But Mohammed Shami is in form and it is expected that both the teams will be able to field their best XI or else cricket lovers will be disappointed. Ponting, the head coach of Delhi Capitals, will now be seen commentating on this match after Delhi’s last match in IPL on Saturday.
He also said that the Oval pitch being similar to home pitches would give Australia an advantage. He said,;; The conditions at The Oval suit Australia and I think the Australian team will benefit from it. It is generally understood that the contest will be between the Indian spinners and the Australian batsmen, but the Oval pitch initially favors the batsmen and spinners have a role from the third to the fourth day. While only four players from Australia are playing in this league. Asked about the impact of IPL on preparations, he said that there are two sides to look at everything.
They said ,;; This can be seen in two ways. Virat has been scoring runs consistently in IPL and his confidence is high while the Australian cricketer hasn’t played that much but will go in with mental preparation. However, he hasn’t scored runs or taken wickets in recent times, said Ponting. The Indian players playing here would not be thinking only about the IPL. Definitely their workload management will be taken full care of and now with playoffs and finals left the players have enough time to rest. He also said,;; Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are in England and are acclimatising. Sean Abbott and Michael Neser are also there to be ready in case any fast bowler gets injured.
Describing Test cricket as paramount, he said,;; When I was in school, I used to run home early to watch test matches. Nothing beats test cricket for me and your achievements in test and first class after you say goodbye to the game gives immense satisfaction. Nowadays T20 is in vogue but the real test is the test. I am lucky to have played 168 Tests.
Describing the rivalry between India and Australia as a big one, he said,;; It has been one of the biggest rivalries in cricket that we have seen in the last two decades. I have played some of my best innings against India in Australia including two consecutive double centuries in Adelaide and Melbourne. Asked about Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, he said that he has seen Rohit closely during his stay in Mumbai Indians and He takes full care of his players. He said,;; Captaincy is 50 percent on the field and the rest off it. I know Rohit from the time of Mumbai Indians when I advised him to hand over the command after relinquishing the captaincy. He takes full care of his players and I am sure will motivate them to give their best.
Inputs From: Hindustan Times
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