New Delhi: Former Australia all-rounder Shane Lee is of the opinion that Ricky Ponting’s comments on senior Indian batter Virat Kohli is likely to backfire the Australian team in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Ponting pointed out that a top order batter like Virat Kohli has just scored two centuries (in Tests) in last five years and that any other player wouldn’t be continuing in international cricket.
Ponting’s observation wasn’t taken well by Indian team head coach Gautam Gambhir, who asked the Australian World Cup-winning captain to refrain from commenting on matters related to Indian cricket and focus on Australian cricket.
Lee, who played 45 One-Day International matches for Australia, said that Ponting made a bad move by making those remarks and that might just charge up Kohli to come hard against the Australian bowlers in the five Tests.
“That is a bad move, Ricky. What are you doing? You are going to fire that guy up. He is a world class player and he will fire up out here,” Lee said on Fox Cricket’s podcast ‘The Follow On’.
Lee said that the series will be a spicier after the India A team was found in a ball-tampering incident during an unofficial Test in the build-up for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“I think it is going to be a fantastic series. I think there is going to be a bit of spice in this series, definitely with the ball-tampering issues in and around the India A team, and particularly now that Ricky Ponting has now come out and given it to Kohli,” Lee said.
Virat Kohli’s runs vs Australia in Test cricket
Virat Kohli has played 25 Test matches against Australia between 2011 and 2023. He has scored 2042 runs against them in 44 innings at an average of 47.48 with the help of five half-centuries and eight centuries. In Australia, the Indian batter has amassed 1352 runs in 13 Test matches. His best run in those conditions came in the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy when he fired 692 runs in four Tests at 86.50 with the help of four centuries.
Ricky Ponting pointed out that a top order batter like Virat Kohli has just scored two centuries (in Tests) in last five years and that any other player wouldn’t be continuing in international cricket. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
