WTC Final | 'Virat, Virat' - Ricky Ponting Accepts Australia Would Be Worried off Indian Batter
Kohli training in Arundel ahead of WTC Final (Twitter)
Ahead of the highly anticipated World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and Australia starting June 7 at The Oval in London, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has emphasised the pivotal roles of Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara for the Indian team's chances of triumph.
Pujara has enjoyed a scorching run of form recently while representing Sussex in the County Championship, amassing an impressive tally of 545 runs in six matches at a staggering average of 68.12 with three magnificent centuries.
Similarly, Kohli enters the WTC final after a highly successful campaign in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, scoring a massive 639 runs at an impressive average of 53.25. His noteworthy achievements during the IPL also featured consecutive centuries in the last two games which is a testament to his red-hot form.
Ponting talks about Kohli, Pujara
Ponting, in his analysis for the ICC Review, drew attention to the significance of Kohli and Pujara in India's strategy. Acknowledging the impact of Pujara's previous performances against Australia, the Australian highlighted the seasoned batter’s role as a consistent thorn in the side of the Australian team.
According to the legendary skipper, Pujara's proficiency in Australian conditions, reminiscent of the anticipated Oval pitch, adds to the challenge faced by the Australian side, who are well aware of the need to dismiss him early.
"The Australian team will be talking about Virat, no doubt about it, and they'll be talking about Pujara. They're the two. Pujara has been a thorn in their side a lot in the past, and in Australia, and this wicket will potentially be a lot more like an Australian pitch. They know that they'll have to get him early," said Ponting.
Furthermore, the Aussie veteran emphasised the rejuvenation of Kohli's form as a foreboding warning for the Australian team.
"They also know that Virat over the last few weeks is probably just about back to his absolute best, albeit in T20 cricket. He told me that the feeling he's getting right now is that he's almost back to his best, and that's an ominous warning for the Australians going into a one-off game," added the 48-year-old.
It is pertinent to mention that Pujara has amassed an impressive 2033 runs at an average of 50.82, including five centuries in 24 Tests. Kohli, too, possesses an exceptional record against the Australians with 1979 runs in 24 matches at an average of 48.93, including eight centuries.
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