Ponting discussed at length the impact of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s absence as India embarks on a new Test cricket era with the upcoming five-match England series.
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Ponting on India’s Test Transition: Balancing Youth and Experience
As India embarks on a new chapter in Test cricket without two of its biggest icons, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has shared his insights on the team’s transition. With the upcoming five-match series against England starting June 20 at Headingley, all eyes are on India’s younger leadership core, led by Shubman Gill.
Ponting believes India is better positioned than most cricketing nations to handle the loss of such legendary players, largely due to the country’s abundant young talent. “It’s always difficult to replace players like Rohit and Kohli who have been pillars in Test cricket for so long,” Ponting said on The ICC Review. “But if any country can do it quickly, it’s India because of their emerging stars.”
Drawing from his experience watching Indian cricket evolve through the IPL, Ponting highlighted players like Yashasvi Jaiswal who have seamlessly transitioned into international cricket. While India can replace skill with promising talent, Ponting pointed out that the loss of experience will be a bigger challenge. However, with a young captain like Gill supported by seasoned campaigners like KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah, India’s rebuilding phase looks promising. “India can handle this transition better than most teams,” he concluded.
Gill on the duo’s absence
Taking over one of the toughest captaincy roles in world cricket, Shubman Gill stayed calm when addressing questions about the absence of veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
He emphasized the team’s resilience, adding, “This situation does not add extra pressure because our team is always ready to handle stress and knows how to win in such circumstances.”