(AP Photo)
Ricky Ponting, the ex-Australian captain, lavished commendation upon Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, for his astute leadership that propelled his team to a spectacular comeback victory against perennial rivals Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024 encounter held in New York last Sunday.
Despite India posting a modest total of 119 runs after being put in to bat first, it was the pace bowling prowess showcased by Jasprit Bumrah and complemented by Hardik Pandya that effectively curtailed Pakistan’s innings to a mere 113 runs in their allotted 20 overs.
“Rohit Sharma is a very experienced captain, isn’t he? And, I just saw him then and said, ‘mate, your captaincy today was outstanding’,” Ponting said in a video posted by the ICC on Instagram.
Ponting implied that Rohit Sharma adeptly utilized his bowling resources, highlighting the synergy between him and certain players, notably Bumrah and Pandya, who have shared the field with Rohit at the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. This familiarity, Ponting asserted, significantly contributed to India’s success.
“I don’t think he could have done much more. You think about a lot of the bowlers that he’s got in his team. He’s had those bowlers in the IPL as well, not only for India.
Ponting openly acknowledged the pivotal role played by the bowlers in executing Rohit’s strategies, emphasizing that their adherence to his plans was instrumental in securing the victory for the Indian team.
“So, he understands them, knows when he can use them. But, it’s one thing for the captain to set a plan, the bowlers are going to go ahead and execute it, and Hardik was outstanding,” he said.
Ponting commented on the conditions at Nassau County, indicating a preference for pacers, a factor vividly demonstrated by Bumrah and Pandya as they spearheaded a resilient comeback to clinch the victory.
“I thought he (Pandya) did a really good job with the ball as well, and then, you break it down, and this has been a wicket that the seamers have liked,” Ponting said.
Returning to the conditions in New York, Ponting delved into specifics, underscoring how in the initial innings, the pacers effectively utilized the moisture in the pitch to their advantage. However, as the sun beat down on the track during the subsequent innings, it drained away the moisture, necessitating Pakistan to adjust their approach accordingly.
“You can see Pakistan got the ball to hold up through natural variation, and it was just a little bit tacky. But, when the sun came out, the wicket dried out quite quickly, and then, you have to adapt and adjust on the run. I thought he (Pandya) did that really well,” he concluded.
