“India are a better team away from home now than they are at home”, Ricky Ponting makes an explosive statement after India’s win in the Perth Test

Ricky Ponting claimed that he initially did not think that India could have won in Perth, given that they were not used to the conditions.

"India are a better team away from home now than they are at home", Ricky Ponting makes an explosive statement after India's win in the Perth Test (Via X)

Team India registered a historic victory by 295 runs in the first of the five match Test series against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Many former Australian cricketers and experts had predicted that India might not have been able to beat the Aussies on the fast and bouncy track in Perth.

However, the team proved everyone wrong and started the series with a bang. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has said that India plays better in overseas Test matches than at home currently.

Ponting also claimed that he did not think that India could have won in Perth given that they were not used to the conditions. However, he gave credit to the team for stunning everyone with the victory and registering the win.

So, you’ve got to give them credit. I must admit, I didn’t think that they could win the first test, India, going there in Perth with conditions that are so foreign to them. But I also made a point going into the test match that I actually think India are a better team away from home now than they are at home.
Ricky Ponting told Star Sports

India got bowled out for 150 runs in the first innings without the presence of their captain Rohit Sharma. However, they came back well to dismiss the Aussies for 104 runs. In the second innings, riding on the 161 runs from Yashasvi Jaiswal, the century from Virat Kohli, and the 77 runs from KL Rahul, they set a target of 534 runs for the Australians to chase. Bumrah’s leadership and bowling spell helped them take the lead in the series.

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Ricky Ponting feels that it was the right decision for India to bat first

Bumrah won the toss and elected to bat first on a greenish wicket. Many experts felt that India should have bowled first. But as the teams batting first have won all four Test matches at the Optus Stadium, Bumrah opted to bat first.

Ricky Ponting feels that it was definitely the right decision for India to bat first despite the greenish wicket (via X)

Ponting felt that it was absolutely the correct decision for the Indian team to bat first and Australia will be disappointed to lose the Test by that margin.

Australia lost by what? Nearly 300 runs. So, they’ll be very disappointed. Everyone asked me on day one when India won the toss about having a bat, and I said, no, absolutely, you have to bat first there. Four test matches have been played there. The team batting first has won all four times. You don’t want to go against what stats say. Although they were out for 150, they still got a chance to bowl on the wicket when it was probably at its best to bowl on. And Bumrah in those conditions, and Siraj, and all three of them. And Nitesh Reddy today. They’re all very good.
Ricky Ponting said to Star Sports

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The next Test match will be played in the Adelaide Oval and it will be a Day/Night Test match with the Pink Ball starting on December 6. Sharma will get back into the playing XI. However, there is no update on whether Shubman Gill will be fit, given that he missed the first Test with a thumb fracture.