Ricky Ponting comes up with curious statement on India’s batting order ahead of Ahmedabad Test
India lost the Indore Test match by nine wickets.
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Mar 7, 2023 7:28 pm
Ricky Ponting (Source: Twitter)
India have an all-important Test lined up in Ahmedabad where they have to win the match to seal their place at the Test Championship in England which will take place between June 7 to June 11. India lost the last Test at Indore against Australia by 9 wickets in three days. Ahead of the 4th Test, the former Australia captain issued a rather bizarre statement in an interview,
Ponting said that India should play both Shubman Gill and KL Rahul in the XI for the fourth Test. The difference is that Gill should slot in at the top of the order and Rahul should bat in the middle order according to Ponting. Rahul has not been in good form through the three innings that he played in and Gill only made 21 off 18 balls with three fours in the first innings and 5 off 15 balls in the second innings.
Rahul has played cricket in England before so he could bat in the middle order – Ricky Ponting
“Maybe Shubman could start at the top and KL could potentially move down into the middle order because he’s played cricket in those (English) conditions before, albeit at the top of the order,” Ponting was quoted as saying by Cricket Addictor. Rahul has seldom batted in the middle order in Tests, but he has batted in the middle order in ODIs for India and has given mixed returns on that front.
“But one thing we know about the UK is that the ball swings for long periods of time during the day. And if the overhead conditions are suitable, then the ball tends to swing right the way through innings” Ponting added. The Test Championship final will be held at the Oval. In 2021, India lost against New Zealand at Southampton. If India qualifies for the final then they will play their second Test Championship final on the trot.
The 48-year-old said that Virat Kohli’s run of poor form in the longest format of the game at present does not ring any alarm bells and that he reckons the Delhi batter will bounce back strong with runs under his belt even in the Test format and that it is only a matter of time before Kohli flourishes with the bat again.
