Australia vs India 2018: Ricky Ponting Reveals Plans to Unsettle Virat Kohli

Former Australia skipper, Ricky Ponting feels its not word but skills that will decide the winners of the Border-Gavaskar trophy. Meanwhile, India and Australia will lock horns in the Test opener in Adelaide from December 6 onwards. However, the hosts have their task cut out, and it will take some serious effort to get the prized scalp of Virat Kohli. Furthermore, the Indian captain is the main threat and Ponting has a plan in place.

Ricky Ponting has his eyes on Virat Kohli

In his last tour down-under, Virat Kohli amassed 692 runs at an average of 86 but failed to put up similar show at home against the same opponents. Last year, India managed to win the series convincingly but Kohli struggled and made just 46 runs in total at an average of nine.

Ponting feels its England’s veteran pacer James Anderson, who has troubled Kohli the most. Though on India’s last tour to England, Anderson failed to pick Kohli’s stick, he did bother the batter on numerous occasions. Some poor slip catching didn’t help matters much either.

“The first thing I’d be doing is going back and looking at how anyone has stopped him in the past,” Ponting told cricket.com.au. “Who has had the most success against Virat Kohli and why?

“The first one that comes to mind is someone like a James Anderson, who’s probably had the most success against him. From what I’ve watched over the years, he seems to trouble him the most.”

Ricky Ponting’s plan for Kohli

Punter feels the Aussies should let it loose a bit once Kohli arrives at the crease. No easy boundaries, tight initial spells and few runs here and there can put off the batter.

“You can put a few fielders out (on the boundary) early on, don’t let him get any boundaries. Maybe don’t go as aggressive at him early on. Try to bowl lots of tight, consistent stuff.

“He likes to run the ball down to third man a lot as well, so maybe just play around with some guys in different areas which might just get inside his head as to what we’re trying to do. Bring your third (slip) or your floating slip up a little tighter because he tends to play with soft hands and run the ball down there.” Ponting suggests.