Ponting mentioned Kohli is a “champion player of the game in all three formats” and India are reaping the rewards of sticking with him as he bounced again in fashion to ignite hopes for his or her second World Cup title within the format after 15 years. Having ended his 1,021-day century drought with a surprising 122 not out from 61 balls in opposition to Afghanistan on the Asia Cup in September, Kohli has been within the forefront of India’s success on the ongoing T20 World Cup as they inch nearer to the semi-finals.

“India now are reaping the rewards of keeping him there and if they go on to the next stage then I’m sure he’ll produce something big in one of the finals as well,” the two-time World Cup profitable captain was quoted saying by the ICC web site.

Kohli, who turned 34 on Saturday, has been the main run-scorer (220 runs) within the ongoing T20 World Cup and has solely been dismissed as soon as in 4 innings. India tackle Zimbabwe of their Super 12 finale right here on Sunday. “I’ve additionally discovered in regards to the T20 sport over time that I’ve been concerned, is it’s extra of an older man’s sport, or older particular person’s sport, than a younger man’s sport.

“Just with the knowledge and the know-how and the expertise in situations like Virat has been confronted with a couple of times. “They’ve done it before, and they tend to find a way to get it done more often than not.” Ponting had firmly believed that the out-of-form Kohli would flip it round and urged the Indian selectors to stick with him.

“He’s been a champion player of the game in all three formats for a long period of time,” Ponting mentioned. “One thing I’ve learnt about champion players, in this game in particular, is you just never write them off. They always tend to find a way, particularly when it matters most, to dig deep enough and find a way to get a job done.” Remembering his 82 not out in opposition to Pakistan, Ponting rated India’s Super 12 opener in opposition to Pakistan as one of many best sporting spectacles.

“If you wind the clock back about a week, start of this tournament; India, Pakistan, right here at the MCG — that was what I thought might happen. “Virat rolling the clock back a little bit, playing a match-winning knock, being man of the match in what I think is one of the best sporting spectacles that I’ve ever seen,” Ponting mentioned in regards to the epic four-wicket win by India.

Battling poor kind and psychological points, Kohli had taken a month’s break free from cricket earlier than the Asia up in UAE.
Ponting mentioned the assist of household and teammates would even have been pivotal in his return to kind. “(It’s) a great learning experience for Virat as a cricket person, to actually get to a point in his career when he had to change, had to do something different,” Ponting mentioned.

“We know he’s all the time been a very laborious employee, he’s all the time been match, all the time sorted his food regimen and been a terrific coach. That labored for him up till a sure time period the place he needed to look elsewhere and discover different methods to get again to being a terrific participant once more. “At the top of the day, all of us play the sport to attempt to do the suitable factor by our household, by our teammates and our followers. And that’s most likely the order that it goes in, to be trustworthy.

“You want to make your family proud, you want to win games for your teammates and you want to have the people that turn up to watch, whether it’s at the venue or through the TV screens, you want them to be proud of what you’ve done as well.”