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'I loved seeing that and he looks like...': Ricky Ponting on Mohammed Siraj's Heroics At WTC Final

image-lio8kx8hMohammed Siraj picked up 4 wickets on the second day of the WTC Final. (Twitter)

Ricky Ponting, the former captain of Australia, has expressed his disappointment with India's bowling strategy in the ongoing World Test Championship final. He believes that India missed an opportunity by not bowling fuller deliveries. 

However, Ponting did praise Indian pacer, Mohammed Siraj, for his determination and described him as the "ultimate competitor." Despite Siraj's efforts, Australia managed to amass a formidable total of 469 runs in their first innings at The Oval, with centuries from Travis Head and Steve Smith. 

Siraj was the standout performer for India, taking four wickets, including crucial dismissals of Usman Khawaja, Head, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon. This milestone also marked his 50th wicket in Test cricket.

“I loved seeing that and he looks like the ultimate competitor. Maybe sometimes he gets carried away and goes a little bit over the top, but you need those guys in your side when things aren’t going well,” Ponting said during an interview with ICC.

Ponting was impressed by the aggressive approach of the right-arm bowler who targeted Australia with short-pitched deliveries. He also commended the player for displaying the much-needed aggression on the field during the match.

“He was the one today who said I am going to be the guy that is going to turn things around and what I loved was that his pace didn’t drop at all during the whole innings.From the first ball yesterday morning until late this afternoon, his pace was hovering around that 86 or 87-mile and hour mark and that says a lot about a great attitude,” he added. 

According to Ponting, the Indian bowlers should have opted for fuller-length deliveries instead of relying heavily on short-pitched bowling. 

“I think where they let themselves down was in the first hour yesterday and bowling too short. With the wicket conditions, the overhead conditions they had and the brand new Dukes ball, they had to bowl fuller and get the ball driven back down the ground,” said Ponting as he feels that this approach would have been more effective in the match. 

Moreover, he also expressed that Team India's decision to play four seamers and leave Ashwin out would eventually cost them heavily in the game.