Former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting has expressed his confidence in Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav for the upcoming T20 World Cup, despite Yadav’s recent poor form. Ponting highlighted Yadav’s past contributions to the Indian T20 team and encouraged him to maintain his aggressive style of play. Ponting emphasized Yadav’s ability to start slow and then unleash his shots, similar to Travis Head’s fearless approach.
Ponting praised the decision to appoint Axar Patel as the vice-captain for the tour, acknowledging Patel’s versatility as a key player for India. Patel’s consistent performances with both bat and ball have been instrumental for the team in recent series. Ponting commended Patel’s adaptability in different batting positions and his reliable left-arm off-spin bowling.
Expressing surprise at Shubman Gill’s exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad, Ponting lauded India’s batting depth. Despite Gill’s recent struggles in white-ball cricket, Ponting highlighted his exceptional batting during the Test series against England. Ponting noted that India’s wealth of talent allows them to leave out quality players like Gill, showcasing the depth of Indian cricket.
