‘Kohli ka khauf abhi se shuru’ – Fans react as Ricky Ponting names Virat Kohli as India’s key player for Test Championship final

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting believes that the duo of Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara can be a key for the Indian team in the upcoming Test Championship final against Australia that is scheduled to be played at the Oval, England from June 7 to June 11.

Pujara has been in a great touch playing for Sussex in the County Championship Division Two in England. The 35-year-old has amassed 545 runs in six games at an average of 68.12, including three centuries.

Meanwhile, Kohli has shown great form for the past few months, as he came off after an excellent IPL season, where he scored 639 runs in 14 matches at 53.25, including back-to-back centuries. He also scored a brilliant hundred in the last played against Australia to end his century drought in red-ball cricket after three years. The 34-year-old scored 186 runs in the final Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy in March.

“The Australian team will be talking about Virat, no doubt about it, and they’ll be talking about Pujara. They’re the two. Pujara has been a thorn in their side a lot in the past, and in Australia, and this wicket will potentially be a lot more like an Australian pitch. They know that they’ll have to get him early,” said Ponting as quoted in Sportskeeda.

“They also know that Virat over the last few weeks is probably just about back to his absolute best, albeit in T20 cricket. He told me that the feeling he’s getting right now is that he’s almost back to his best, and that’s an ominous warning for the Australians going into a one-off game,” he further added.

Both Kohli and Pujara also have great numbers against the Aussies in the longest format of the game. Pujara has scored 2033 runs at an average of 50.82 with five centuries in 24 Tests against Australia, while Kohli also has amassed 1979 runs at an average of 48.93 with eight centuries in 24 matches.

He (Shubman Gill) looks like a terrific young guy: Ricky Ponting

Talking further, Ponting also hailed the young Indian batter Shubman Gill for his attitude and swagger ahead of the title clash between India and Australia. The 23-year-old had an incredible season in IPL 2023 where he finished as a leading run scorer with 890 runs from 17 matches, including three centuries.

“He looks like a terrific young guy. He’s got that bit of attitude about him as well. He’s got a bit of swagger. He has some serious class. That sort of front foot pull shot that he plays against the fast bowlers will be a shot that he’ll probably need against this Australian attack,” Ponting said.