“Two Test match hundreds in five years”, Ricky Ponting plays mind games with Virat Kohli ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25
Ricky Ponting feels that any other batter besides Virat Kohli would not have found his place in any international team in Test cricket with the kind of stats that he recorded in the last five years.
Follow Us
Ricky Ponting, Virat Kohli (Via X)
Virat Kohli and the Indian Cricket Team are currently under scrutiny after India suffered a 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand at home. This was their first Test series defeat at home since 2012 and the first Test series whitewash at home since the time they started playing Test cricket.
Kohli failed with the bat and scored only 93 runs in the six innings combined, with a dismal average of 15.50. His highest score was 70, made during the second innings of the first Test match in Bengaluru.
Former Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, feels that any other batter besides Kohli would not have found his place in any international team in Test cricket with the kind of stats that he has in the last five years. Ponting feels that it is a point of concern for the team that Kohli has scored just three Test hundreds in the last five years.
I saw a stat the other day about Virat, it said he’s only scored two (three) Test hundreds in the last five years. That didn’t seem right to me, but if that is right, then that is, I mean, that’s a concern. There wouldn’t be anyone else probably even playing international cricket as a top-order batsman that’s only scored two Test match hundreds in five years.
Ricky Ponting said while speaking on the latest episode of ICC Review
Kohli’s last Test century came against West Indies in Port Of Spain in 2023. His numbers in Test cricket have been waning down and he is facing severe criticism for his form in the longest format of the game. The former Indian captain has been struggling against both spin and pace. It has now become a point of concern before India plays Australia in a five-match Test series Down Under.
Virat Kohli needs to get back in form in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Kohli has played 201 innings in 118 Test matches so far, scoring 9,040 runs at an average of 47.83 with 29 centuries and 31 half-centuries. His current average is nowhere close to what it takes to be a great Test batter having played the number of Test matches that he has played.
The former Indian skipper needs to get back to his best in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting from November 22, or his place in the Test side could be in jeopardy.
Ponting, however, backed Virat Kohli to come good in the upcoming Test series, given that he is a great of the game and loves to play against Australia in Australia.
He feels that Kohli will definitely score runs in the first game of the series in Perth, and also highlighted his great numbers in Australian soil.
Stay Updated!
Rohit Sarkar
(270 Articles Published)