• By Namrata Vijay
  • Thu, 12 Sep 2024 12:42 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

ENG vs AUS, 1st T20I: Ex-Australian skipper Ricky Ponting lauded Virat Kohli for changing the longest format in Indian cricket. He emphasized how Kohli's career as a Test skipper played a big role in the way they changed this format. The Men in Blue succeeded in Test cricket under Kohli's guidance, which started in 2014 and ended in 2022. He inculcated an aggressive style of playing cricket in the team and assured them that they could win matches in overseas conditions as well. Under his leadership, they became the first Asian team to have won a Test series in Australia.

"Their fast-bowling depth is great. The leadership in the last 6-7 years has been strong. Going back to Kohli's start of captaincy, played a big role in turning the cricket around and Dravid has continued the same in the recent four years. The influence of someone like that [Kohli] around a team would be great and they've got star players," Ponting was quoted as saying to Sky Sports.

Kohli's Test captaincy tenure

When he was the skipper, the Men in Blue had won 40 Test matches and lost 17 while 11 ended in a tie of the 68 matches that they had played. His brilliant home and away record made him one of the most successful skippers in the longest format. But this time, Kohli would be going to Australia just as a batter since Rohit Sharma would be the skipper.

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In the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar series, Kohli left the series halfway because of his daughter Vamika's birth. Ajinkya Rahae was the stand-in skipper and under him, the team fought through injuries and also the absence of star players and went on to win another historic Test series 2-1.

Indians don't fear the big stage anymore

Ponting also emphasized the Men in Blue's historic victory at the Gabba, as it was the first time in 32 years that a visiting team had defeated Australia in the Gabba. He also highlighted how their mindsets were changed and their fearless approach.

"They won a game at the Gabba, which just doesn't happen. I think their batters adapt to overseas batting conditions very well. I don't think they're as daunted by the Gabba or the Optus Oval, as they maybe once were. Maybe it is a selection thing, or they just don't fear the big stage anymore," he revealed.

He also credited the IPL for playing a big role in helping the Indian players perform well in big tournaments.

"For the last 10 years being around the IPL, I've noticed that a lot of the young guys [don't fear the big stage anymore] as the IPL is high-pressure, it is like a World Cup for them. Their batsmen are all very aggressive stroke-making players. They are not scared of failing," he concluded.