Punjab Newsline,Sports :
Despite poor form, Ponting advises the Indian skipper to play aggressive cricket; expresses surprise over Shubman Gill’s omission
Former Australia cricketer Ricky Ponting has backed out-of-form Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav ahead of the T20 World Cup. India will defend their title in the tournament starting on February 7, and Ponting believes Suryakumar can still prove to be a match-winner for the team with his naturally aggressive batting. Suryakumar’s form in 2025 has not been impressive, as he has managed only 218 runs in 19 innings at a strike rate of 123.16, which is considered below par by T20 standards.
Speaking to the ICC, Ponting said Suryakumar’s recent form has surprised him as well, given that he has been a consistent and reliable performer for India in T20 cricket for a long time. Ponting explained that when Suryakumar is at his best, he usually takes a few balls at the start to find his rhythm and then plays his shots freely without fear.
Comparing Suryakumar’s approach to that of Travis Head, Ponting said such players do not play with the fear of getting out, but instead focus on scoring runs. He added that Suryakumar should trust himself, play without pressure and stick to his natural game, as he has already proven that he is among the best players in the world in the T20 format.
Ponting also welcomed the decision to appoint Axar Patel as vice-captain. He described Axar as the team’s go-to all-rounder, who has been used effectively as a pinch hitter whenever required. Axar has also been promoted up the batting order at times, and his left-arm spin bowling has consistently been a reliable option for the team.
In addition, Ponting expressed surprise over Shubman Gill being left out of the T20 World Cup squad. He said that although Gill’s recent white-ball form has not been very strong, leaving out a player of his quality highlights the depth of Indian cricket. According to Ponting, this clearly shows how many match-winning options India have at their disposal, which could prove crucial in a major tournament like the World Cup.