I have not seen a greater ODI participant than Kohli, he may be the main run-scorer: Ricky Ponting

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting mentioned he has not seen a “higher participant” than Virat Kohli in ODIs, and backed the Indian batting star to go previous legendary Sachin Tendulkar as the best run-getter within the 50-over format. Kohli made an distinctive unbeaten 100, his 51st in ODIs, to information India to a six-wicket win over Pakistan in a Champions Trophy match right here on Sunday. “I do not suppose I’ve ever seen a greater 50-over participant than Virat Kohli. Now that he is gone previous me (in run-maker’s checklist) and solely two (batters) forward of him, I am positive he would need to give himself the perfect likelihood to be remembered because the all-time main run scorer within the recreation,” Ponting informed ICC Review.
In the course of the course of that hundred, Kohli went previous the 14000-run mark in one-dayers, becoming a member of former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara and Tendulkar in a uncommon membership.
Kohli (14085 runs) remains to be 4,341 runs behind Tendulkar (18426) and at 36, the champion batter has restricted time in his hand to overtake the latter’s mark.

However Ponting didn’t see it as an not possible activity for Kohli.

“Clearly physical-wise, he is in all probability as match as he is ever been and works exceptionally onerous on that facet of his recreation. It is loopy when you consider it, is not it? Simply how good Virat’s been over such a protracted time period, but he is nonetheless 4,000 runs behind Sachin. “It simply goes to indicate how good Sachin was, but additionally his longevity within the recreation. However with somebody like Virat, you by no means write him off. If the starvation’s nonetheless there, then I am by no means going to jot down him off (to overhaul Tendulkar),” he added. Ponting mentioned a match towards Pakistan typically introduced the perfect in Kohli, and termed him as an enormous match participant.

“Yeah, 2022 (T20 WC) and now, he stood up towards the crew that he would in all probability metal himself essentially the most to play towards. When Pakistan had batted first on a difficult wicket, it wanted somebody on the prime of the order to play a match-winning innings like that.

“As soon as once more, it was Kohli to get the job achieved. He is been a champion participant for a protracted, very long time. And notably within the white-ball codecs, the place he is been an unbelievably good 50-over participant,” mentioned the Aussie.

Ponting mentioned Kohli’s hundred was the distinction between India and Pakistan on that night time.

“You take a look at the 2 scorecards, it is one, Virat making a 100, and plenty of Pakistan begins with out anybody occurring and making an enormous rating.

“I’ve mentioned eternally, in any format of the sport, a 50 by no means wins you or your crew something. You must get huge scores. And so the person huge scores weren’t there, however the huge partnerships weren’t there both,” Ponting famous.

The Tasmanian mentioned senior batters Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan weren’t capable of serve Pakistan in a desired method.

“They have not been capable of give their greatest again to their crew. These two guys needed to get up,” Ponting mentioned.

“They needed to make huge runs, they usually have not been capable of do it within the first couple of video games, and that may be the explanation why Pakistan do not make it by to the semi-finals.”