Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting expressed surprise at the criticism surrounding Virat Kohli's place in the Indian T20I team. He went a step further, declaring Kohli as his ‘first pick’ for the T20 World Cup 2024. Virat Kohli is in red-hot form in IPL 2024 as he has amassed whopping 708 runs in 14 innings. While his form is undeniable, there are persistent questions about his strike rate, particularly considering his position at the top of the batting order.
Former Australia captain believes some Indian fans and analysts might be overly critical and disregarding Kohli's past achievements too readily.
"He (Kohli) is the first pick for me for India. So, class and experience like that, you can't replace. 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," the former Australian captain and Delhi Capitals head coach told ICC.
Ponting backs Kohli-Rohit opening partnership for T20 WC
Ponting has a solution for India's batting woes at the T20 World Cup 2024 which is set to start from June 2. He wants Virat Kohli to open with Rohit Sharma for India. Ponting believes this experienced duo can provide a solid foundation at the top. With explosive batsmen like Suryakumar Yadav lower down the order, India can then focus on accelerating the run rate in the latter stages of the innings.
"They (selectors) have still got a decision to make (on the opening pair) 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 (batting position), but I'm pretty sure that they'll go with Kohli and Rohit Sharma (as openers)," added Ponting.
“He can play his role at the top. And if you've got the right guys around him scoring (like) Suryakumar (Yadav)... Rohit Sharma's going to have a high strike rate. These other guys can go in there and play their way. Kohli has scored a century, his eighth overall, this IPL season and five half-tons, a feat that has helped PCB make a dramatic turnaround to make the playoffs with six straight wins,” Ponting stated.
Kohli's strike rate debate
While Kohli's strike rate of 155.60 in the ongoing IPL season has been a talking point, it's important to consider it's his highest in his entire 17-year RCB career. This suggests he's actively working to improve in this area. Ponting acknowledges the current emphasis on strike rate over traditional averages. However, he emphasizes that Kohli's overall value to the Indian team remains undeniable. His experience and leadership qualities are invaluable assets, and his improved strike rate is a positive sign for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
"The mantra I think for the teams three or four years ago, was making sure that someone at the top of the order made 80 or 100, even if it took them 60 balls, it didn't really matter. I think it's sort of shifting now to be more of a strike rate based game where you can have a massive impact on a game with a 40 off 15 balls rather than getting an 80 off 55 balls sort of thing," the World Cup-winning captain .
Kohli's track record in T20 World Cup
Kohli's credentials as a big-match player were on full display during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. Ponting specifically pointed to Kohli's unbeaten 82 against arch-rivals Pakistan and his crucial half-century against England in the semi-final. These standout performances cemented Kohli's reputation as someone who thrives under pressure and delivers when it matters most.
"I remember having this chat and some other chats I did for the ICC about there's some talk about Virat not being in their team only last year, but what happened when the big games come around, he was one of the guys who got the job done," Ponting concluded.
Now Kohli is gearing up for IPL 2024 Eliminator which will be played between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals on May 22.
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