Ricky Ponting has opined on Virat Kohli’s popularity in Australia ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The five-match test series between India and Australia is all set to begin on November 22 in Perth.
Kohli rose to prominence in the early part of the last decade when he returned with consistent performances. Moreover, his aggression and in-your-face attitude, especially while playing in England and Australia, was enjoyed by the cricket enthusiasts.
Over the years, Kohli has emerged as a standout batter for India in challenging circumstances during their tours to Australia. However, the right-hander has been sensational to prevail over obstacles and score 1,352 runs in 13 games at an average of 54.08, with six hundreds.
Ponting feels Virat Kohli’s winning mentality and performances have helped him become a respected figure in Australia. In an interaction with host Sanjana Ganesan on The ICC Review, the 49-year-old said:
“He’s a superstar, has been a superstar of the game for so long. He’s passionate about the way that he plays. He’s passionate about his team. He wants to win and he plays with his heart on his sleeve.”
“You talk about the media here and the following that Virat has in Australia. That’s on the back of having been here and played well in the past,” Ponting added.
Irfan Pathan feels Virat Kohli will “thrive” against pace in Australia
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan took to X on Wednesday to express his confidence of Virat Kohli coming back to form in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Kohli has been undergoing a rough patch, where he has been unable to convert his starts into a big knock.
The 36-year-old was disappointing with his performances in the recent test series against New Zealand, where he scored only 93 runs in six innings. However, being the top-scorer in BGT history, Kohli will be looking to continue his strong performances and help India secure a dominating series victory.
Pathan thinks Virat Kohli has fared well against “fast and bouncy pitches” and will continue to do so in the five-match test series. Furthermore, he feels Kohli’s competitive spirit will help him to perform at his best against the big challenge of the Australian team.
Check out Irfan Pathan’s tweet below:
Both India and Australia are vying for top two spots in the WTC standings. The Indian team needs to win this series 4-0, while Australia will have to secure victory in five of the remaining seven games (2 Tests against Sri Lanka). It will be interesting to see how the standings look after BGT 2024-25.
