Archive photo of Ricky Ponting© AFP
The T20 World Cup is in less than two months and all teams are gearing up for the mega-match. The Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team is also gearing up for the competition with a number of top-level series including the Asia Cup. India has not won an ICC title since the 2013 Champions Trophy and all eyes would be on Rohit’s side to end that drought. In the past few months, several Indian players have performed well in the T20 format, and Hardik Pandya is prominent. So when Ricky Ponting was asked in ‘The ICC Review’ to name the top five players he would select if he went for a World T20I team, Pandya was one of the first picks.
The former Australian cricket team captain also named fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah in the list. Ponting’s first choice was Rashid Khan from Afghanistan, followed by Babar Azam, Pandya from Pakistan, Jos Buttler and Bumrah from England.
For Pandya, Ponting said: “In his current form, it’s quite difficult to pass Hardik Pandya at number three. His IPL was excellent. Seeing him back in the bowling alley is something I was always a little unsure about would ever happen, he has had some really big injury setbacks which has clearly impacted how much he has been able to play for India.
“But he’s bowling again, and at 90mph, which he did four or five years ago. But his batting and his batting maturity have improved by leaps and bounds.
“He understands the game better and he understands his game better than ever before and right now he is probably the best all-rounder in the world in T20 cricket, and possibly ODI cricket.”
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About Bumrah Ponting said: “Jasprit Bumrah is number five. He is probably the most complete bowler in Test cricket, One Day cricket and T20 cricket in the world right now. Very good with the new ball when someone decides to use it who way.
“India might consider handing him a surrender with the new ball in Australia (at the T20 World Cup) where he could swing but what you can guarantee are some great quality death overs where every team is looking for – someone who can perform slow balls and bouncers.”
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