Ponting also commented on the workload issue among the players who would feature in World Cup.
Indian wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant couldn't attract with his performance in the recently concluded five-match ODI series against Australia. He made some blunders with the gloves behind the wickets in Mohali and with the bat, it was a flop show in both the games. India had rested MS Dhoni to check whether Pant could be a good back-up option for India in the World Cup. But his failures have put a question mark.
The doubt is for others, not for Ricky Ponting. The former Australia cricketer and current Delhi Capitals coach has full faith in Pant. Ponting feels India doesn't have a better option than him for the World Cup.
In a chat with Times of India, Ponting said, “I think it’s actually a big job for me and the coaches when he comes in, to make him forget what’s happened in the last few days. He’s probably lucky it happened in the last couple of games. It would have been hard to play all five games under that kind of pressure.”
The pressure got better of Pant, but the Delhi Capitals coach believe returning to his favorite format would definitely boost his confidence.
“Now he’s back in a competition where he has dominated in the past. If he can win a couple of games for us then everything will be forgotten. I can’t see anyone better than him as a second wicketkeeper in that Indian World Cup squad,” he said.
World Cup is just after the Indian Premier League and thus, the key players of every nation will have to look after their workload. Talking about it, Ponting said, “Most teams didn’t go near any of the Australian players at the auction for that reason. We might be a little bit lucky, we don’t have too many of them…Shikhar, Rabada, Rishabh, Boult. We know about the foreign players but we aren’t sure what the Indian players’ workload management issues are going to be.”
He added: “We haven’t got any Indian bowlers who are part of the World Cup. Workload stuff concerns bowlers more than batsmen. One thing you can’t afford is injuries to your main fast bowlers.”
Workload issue may not lot allow the national team management and IPL franchises to walk together. On which, Ponting said, “I haven’t come across that. I’m sure if Rishabh Pant at the end of this IPL has a hamstring issue, our fitness guys are probably going to get a tap on the shoulder.”
Ponting also commented on who's the better batsman, Virat Kohli or Sachin Tendulkar? "He (Tendulkar) was technically the more sound. He was very still, very steady. Virat is the flashier of the two. He has more square-of-the wicket shots, while Sachin was more a down-the-line, play in the ‘V’ sort of player. This is where it is hard to compare the two. Different eras, different wickets, everything is different.”
“I can relate to Virat because when I watch him play, I think a lot of his attitude is similar to mine. On the field, he is aggressive, wears his heart on his sleeve, (though) his body language can get out of control sometimes. That is like me… I was the same.”
On India's chances of winning the World Cup, Ponting was clear that they will need huge contribution from Virat Kohli. “I don’t think we can get to the conclusion (of who is better between the two) till Virat’s career is over. Only then will we have a clearer picture. Sachin is a legend. Yes, you can say Virat is piling up runs. His Test average is more than 50 (53.76). But Sachin maintained that (average) in 200 Tests. Virat’s ODI record, though, is unbelievable. That’s why I feel India are a very dangerous side. If Virat has a good World Cup, India will win,” he said.
(With Times of India Inputs)