T20 World Cup: Ricky Ponting backs Virat Kohli to deliver in Australia: Virat Kohli has played two matches in the Asia Cup. He has scored 35 and unbeaten 59, but Kohli’s biggest test will lie in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia, starting October. Former Australia captain Rick Ponting wants to see the Indian player to star in the big ICC event. Follow T20 World Cup cricket live updates with InsideSport.IN
The ICC event in Australia is going to be pivotal when it comes to his T20 career. A poor show in T20 World Cup may bring curtains down to his international show in the shorter format as well.
“I just hope that we see him 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!,” Ponting said in the ICC review.
On dissection of Kohli’s two innings in the Asia Cup, there I nothing much to read despite the scores. His 35 against Pakistan looked rusty, and the half-century on Wednesday came against a weaker opposition in the form of Hongkong.
His rustiness was guaranteed when the player has been out of action for a month. Kohli missed the West Indies and the Zimbabwe series. He took a break to stay fresh for the Asia Cup and the remainder of the season. India will also welcome Australia and South Africa at home before the big ticket event of the T20 World Cup.
Kohli’s mental health has become a subject of discussion: Even before the Asia Cup, the player did talk a lot on mental health and how he also faked his intensity on the field. At this point, it is important to note that Kohli has undergone a torrid time with the bat. He has been without a international ton for more than 1000 days.
Outstanding six by Virat Kohli.#ViratKohli #INDvsHKpic.twitter.com/JLy4uevEFV
— Square Leg (@Cricket_Is_Here) August 31, 2022
After the high standards he has set for himself, Kohli has not been able to score big runs, which has become a talking point. Even critics have questioned his place in the Indian team. But Ponting believes
“I don’t think I can quite relate to the ‘intensity’ (comment),” said Ponting. “When things aren’t well and you’re not scoring the runs you used to scoring, the game all of a sudden seems to be too hard”
“I sort of faced it in the last couple of years of my career where my career tapered off quite quickly … It was almost, the harder I work, the worse I got. ”
“I was so focused and conscious on being perfect and doing things exactly right, thinking I had to do that to get the best out of myself, but all I was doing was putting pressure on myself and not letting myself play the game the way I always played it. I reckon it might be a bit of that creeping in with Virat as well.
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