India vs Australia: ‘With Virat Kohli absent, there’s almost no one to pick India back after a loss like that,’ says Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting and Virat Kohli

The Indian team faced one of their worst days in the history of Test cricket after they bundled out for 36 during the second innings against Australia in Adelaide. This marked their lowest innings total ever, surpassing 42 against England during the Lord’s Test in 1974.

India left the second day’s play at 9/1, and everyone expected them to post a challenging total in front of the hosts. However, that couldn’t happen as Virat Kohli’s men fell like ninepins. Now, their troubles are going to rise from here as Kohli won’t be available from the next match onwards. He’d fly back home to be with his wife Anushka Sharma, for the birth of their first child.

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting said that with Virat not there, it won’t be easy for the visiting side to bounce back. He reckoned that the team needs to make several changes before the second Test to fight against the Aussies. Ponting suggested that the Indians might include Rishabh Pant in the playing XI to strengthen the middle-order.

Also Read | India vs Australia: Pat Cummins reveals how he ‘trapped’ Cheteshwar Pujara at the Adelaide Test

“With Kohli not being there as well, there’s almost no-one to pick them back up after a loss like that. They’ve got to make a couple of changes. Rishabh Pant has to be in that middle order. With Kohli not being there they’ve got to strengthen their batting, he’s got to come in,” Ponting told cricket.com.au.

Australia in a great position for clean sweep: Ponting

The former cricketer reckoned that if Australia wins in Melbourne, it would be almost impossible for India to come back from there. He stated that Tim Paine and co are in a perfect position to go for a clean sweep.

“I am sure but there’s one thing to make selection changes there’s another to lift the spirits back up again and make sure they’re mentally right for the next challenge because the Australians are not going to go away now,” he said.

“There could be a good chance (of a sweep). Let’s hope we do get a result in Melbourne, and if we do, I think India is going to find it really hard to bounce back and win a game,” Ponting signed off.

Also Read | India vs Australia: Ajay Jadeja backs Prithvi Shaw ahead of the second Test in Melbourne