Virat Kohli has done a fantastic job advocating Test cricket. He adores this format the most. Nevertheless, the former India skipper is currently having trouble with the format. More than three years have passed since Kohli’s last scored a Test century, and almost 15 Test innings have passed since his previous Test fifty. In the current Border-Gavaskar Test series, Kohli only scored 111 runs in five innings, raising concerns about his Test form. Legends like Matthew Hayden and Mark Waugh have commented on Kohli’s century drought in this format, but their fellow countryman Ricky Ponting had an intriguing viewpoint.
Even with Kohli’s struggles over the past three years, when the India star failed to reach the triple-figure mark across formats, Ponting has remained one of his constant supporters. Ponting had stated earlier in interviews that “champion players usually find a way,” and Kohli did succeed in doing so.
The 33-year-old broke his long century drought by scoring his remarkable century in a T20I match during the Asia Cup last year, followed by two ODI hundreds. And although it was expected that he would maintain his form in Test cricket as well, Kohli has been unable to do so. Ponting doesn’t seem bothered by the outside noise at all.
‘It has been an absolute nightmare’ – Ricky Ponting on the ongoing BGT 2023
The former Australia skipper pointed out that the pitches in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series have been difficult to bat on. “I am not looking at anybody’s form in the series because, for batters, it has been an absolute nightmare. Australia have done a remarkable job by turning around those first two Test matches and coming back to win the third. We all know batting has been so incredibly difficult. And it has not been because of the turn, but also the uneven bounce which makes you lose trust in the wicket, and if that happens, you are guessing all the time, which makes batting really difficult,” he said
He then spoke at length about Kohli. “For Kohli, I have said that over and over, champion players always find a way. He might be in a bit of a drought at the moment and might be not scoring runs, which we all expect him to score, but he is a realist as well. When you are a batsman, and you are struggling and not scoring runs, you are pretty aware of that yourself. I am not concerned about this because I am confident he will bounce back,” he added.
Here’s how fans reacted to Ricky Ponting’s take on Kohli’s form:
Sun sun ke pak Gaya hu par form abhi tak nhi aayi
— Sumit jaiswal (@Gaokaogg) March 6, 2023
Ponting b pindian kutto ki dlali krta ha hr wqt
— JuTt Saaß (@saa_jutt) March 6, 2023
Thank God he's off from babar… He's a jinx
— mudassir jabbar (@crick_frik) March 6, 2023
— ?? (@orange_cap1) March 6, 2023
Chokli pr saying it since 3 years ? pic.twitter.com/a2i6xDxMZM
— suresh (@suresh54058676) March 6, 2023
Ninja technique to give advantage to Aus in WTC
— RK (@MahiGOAT07) March 6, 2023
Ricky ponting said " Warra no.1 ranking for vadapav.
— A. (@PrimeAbhay) March 6, 2023
He bounced back in white ball cricket but can't see him or any other batters bouncing back on these kind of tracks. Even in the SA test early last year he made a good 75+ score.
— Prantik (@Pran__07) March 6, 2023
