Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting wants to see Indian superstar batter Virat Kohli among the leading run-getter in the next ICC T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.
The Australian legend stated his delight at seeing the right-handed batter get back to securing ways in his comeback game against Pakistan in the 2022 Asia Cup in Dubai on Sunday (August 28).
Speaking to The ICC Review, he said:
“I just hope that we see him [Virat Kohli] back at his best and in the World Cup. I’d rather see Virat come out here (in Australia) and be one of the leading players in the tournament, but just make sure he doesn’t score many runs against Australia when they play!”
“First and foremost, great to see him back in the runs. No surprise that he did it in a run chase. We’ve always known that about him. His record suggests he is better when his team is chasing runs.”
Ricky Ponting has once again backed Virat Kohli to fire in the T20 World Cup in Australia 👊#ICC #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/dCPmmcc99j
— CricXtasy (@CricXtasy) August 31, 2022
Kohli secured 35 runs off 34 balls and appeared as the joint-highest run-getter for India alongside Ravindra Jadeja as Rohit Sharma and Co. beat Pakistan by 5 wickets in India’s opening game at the Dubai International Stadium.
“Virat Kohli is in a good place mentally”- Ponting
The 3-time World Cup champion also lauded the RCB batter for opening up around his mental health battle.
Ponting thinks that such a disclosure has freed the former Indian skipper to start feeling better about himself. He further added that a month-long break from cricket strength does Kohli a world of good.
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The former cricketer said:
“The fact that he [Virat Kohli] has taken that month off to get away, to sort of regathering his thoughts, get himself back where we think he is in the right space mentally … there are lots of good signs there.”