T20 World Cup 2024: Ricky Ponting cements this position for Virat Kohli

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has backed former India captain Virat Kohli to open the innings for India at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. 

Virat Kohli is currently in sensational form in the Indian Premier League 2024 season for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru as an opening batsman. He has been pairing up with skipper Faf du Plessis and the duo has worked wonders for the team, especially in the 2nd half of the season where RCB is yet to lose a game. 

In the first half of IPL 2024, RCB were down and out but the way they staged their comeback was terrific. Virat Kohli is highly responsible for the turnaround as he was the only batter in the team who was getting the runs consistently.

His form and motivational words helped the Bengaluru team stage the extraordinary turnaround the reach the playoffs in the most exciting manner.     

What did Ricky Ponting say about Virat Kohli's position at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024? 

While speaking to the apex International cricketing body ICC, Ricky Ponting claimed that the Indian team management has got a job to carry out. Ponting, who was head coaching the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024, claimed that if the Men in Blue lack something in their team, then it is the count of the left-handers. 

Ricky Ponting is of the view that Rahul Dravid and co. will have to make a huge decision on whether they want to see Yashasvi Jaiswal open with Rohit Sharma. But regardless of this headache, Ponting stated that he would be backing Virat Kohli to open with the Indian skipper. Punter was, in fact, "pretty sure" about Kohli appearing at the top of the order. 

"They [selectors] have still got a decision to make because (Yashasvi) Jaiswal is in that squad and one thing they haven't got a lot in their team is left-hand batters. So they've got a decision to make with Jaiswal, but I'm pretty sure that they'll go with Kohli and Rohit Sharma [as openers]." - Ponting said via ICC.com. 

Ponting chooses Kohli as his first pick in India's starting XI 

Ricky Ponting then criticized the Indian fans for always trying to write Virat Kohli off and finding a reason to not select him due to his T20 game. However, for the 3-time 50-over World Cup winner, Kohli will be the first pick in India's playing XI after captain Rohit Sharma. 

Ponting believes that Kohli can play a similar role for India as he is playing for the RCB as an opening batsman. The DC head coach concluded by saying that if the batters around Kohli - Rohit, Surya, and Hardik Pandya among others are able to get their strike rate sky high, then it will be icing on the cake. 

"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."

"He is the first pick for me for India. He can play his role at the top. And if you've got the right guys around him scoring, Suryakumar, Rohit Sharma's going to have a high strike rate. These other guys can go in there and play their way." - Ricky Ponting concluded.