Ricky Ponting, a legendary Australian batsman, has stated that wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will be one of the players to watch during the T20 World Cup later this year in Australia.
“He’s amazing… speak about a nice person.” He is an exceptional young man who has the world at his feet. He’ll be a huge threat for India, particularly on the wickets we’ll be preparing in Australia (for the T20 World Cup) – fantastic, fast, flat, bouncy grounds. “He’ll definitely be one of the players to watch at the event,” Ponting remarked on the most recent episode of ICC Review.
In terms of his batting position, Ponting believes he would be used as a floater by Team India in T20Is.
“I believe they’ll use him as a floater.” They’ll have (him) in the batting order at number five. However, if they come to the point where there are seven to eight overs left and they are one or two behind, they will consider sending him in and giving him as much time as possible. He is that energising and energetic. “I will surely try to use him in that manner,” he stated.
The renowned batsman also believes that spinner Kuldeep Yadav can repeat his excellent efforts with the Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2022 for India.
Kuldeep was the highest wicket-taker for DC in IPL 2022, taking 21 wickets in 13 games and ranking among the top five bowlers.
“Going into the auction, he was one of my top targets since I’ve seen how good he’s been in the past.” His abilities had not waned. We needed to get really close to him and figure out who he was as a person. Set up an environment and a training regimen for him to bring out the most in him,” he advised.
“All of us collaborated closely with him. Watto (Shane Watson) worked closely with him on the mental aspect of the game, and he delivered some excellent results. I’m sure his name will come up because he’s a little different – a left-arm leg-spinner,” he continued.
Given Virat Kohli’s present form, the famous batter is certain that, given his professionalism, Kohli would quickly resolve any mechanical or mental concerns. Kohli has played 63 international games and scored 2,478 runs at an average of 37 since his last international tonne in November 2019.
“It (bad form) will happen to everyone at some point.” Virat probably had a ten- or twelve-year period in which he did not have many low points. However, there was a lot of speculation and chatter around the IPL about how exhausted and burned out he was. That is his responsibility to work out, examine, and improve, whether it is a technical or mental issue. “I’m sure, being the consummate professional that he is, he’ll figure it out, and he’ll figure it out quickly,” he remarked.
“One thing I do know from experience is that as a player, you frequently fool yourself into believing that you are not physically or psychologically exhausted. You’ll always find a way to rouse yourself up for practise or a game. You don’t realise how tired and exhausted you are until you actually stop and take a couple of days off.
“So that might be exactly where Virat Kohli is right now,” he added, “but I am very confident he won’t be down for long.”
