Renowned cricketer Ricky Ponting, a three-time ICC ODI World Cup winner and former captain of Australia’s golden generation, has been lavish in his praise for Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s leadership in the ongoing ICC 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup. Ponting, in an interview with the ICC, recognized that while individual talent shines, it’s the collective performance of the squad that truly matters. He highlighted the importance of maintaining composure under pressure and expressed his confidence in India’s potential to shine in the tournament.
Ponting noted that India had made a strong start with two impressive victories, and their well-rounded team, covering all aspects of bowling, batting, and fielding, adds to their strengths. He emphasized that the true test would be how they perform under pressure, especially in this edition of the World Cup.
“India is set to face formidable teams like South Africa, New Zealand, and England in the tournament,” Ponting observed. Despite comfortable wins against significant opponents such as Australia and Pakistan, the ultimate verdict is yet to be determined.
Commenting on the leadership transition from Virat Kohli to Rohit Sharma, Ponting stated, “Virat’s personality is well-known, and he has always been deeply connected to fans, wearing his heart on his sleeve. Leading a team as substantial as India can be challenging. However, Rohit’s relaxed demeanor and extensive experience as a player make him well-suited for the role. He has performed admirably thus far in the ICC 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup.”
India has maintained a perfect record by winning all three of their matches in this edition of the 2023 ICC ODI Cricket World Cup. They are set to face Bangladesh in their next match, where India is a heavy favorite. The match against Bangladesh is scheduled to take place on the 19th of October at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.
