Ricky Ponting has voiced support for India’s decision to appoint Shubman Gill as Test captain instead of Jasprit Bumrah. While many pundits questioned the call, Ponting clarified that Bumrah’s injury history made him an unsuitable choice. “I actually think it’s the right move… You can’t have a captain coming in and missing games here and there, so I think it’s the right decision,” he said.
Ponting emphasised the importance of consistency in leadership and urged that Gill be given a long-term opportunity to prove himself. “Now that they’ve made it, it’s one they’ve got to stick with and give him (Gill) a good crack at it for a long period of time,” he added.
India’s Transition Phase and the Talent Pool
With stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin retiring and Mohammed Shami ruled out due to injury, India is entering a major transition. Ponting acknowledged the challenge but believes India is uniquely equipped to handle it. “It’s always very hard to replace players like that… but if any country can do it and do it quickly, India can,” he noted. He attributed this to India’s deep pool of young talent.
Referring to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s quick rise, he stated, “I’ve seen it first hand for 10 years now around the IPL and we’ve seen the emergence of (Yashasvi) Jaiswal… and (have) done really well pretty much straight away.” While acknowledging that skills are replaceable, Ponting warned that experience will be the missing factor. However, with players like KL Rahul and Bumrah still in the mix, he believes India will have enough experience to guide the team through the phase. “If you look at a rebuilding sort of phase, India can cope with it better than most other teams,” he concluded.
Backing Arshdeep Singh for the England Tour
Ponting also advocated for Arshdeep Singh’s inclusion in the playing XI for the England Test series, citing his familiarity with English conditions. “I would actually have him in their Test team at the start (of the England series),” he said. Ponting pointed out that Arshdeep’s County cricket experience and skill with the Dukes ball make him a strong option.
“To have that point of difference, having a left-armer in your team… it’ll be a bit of a surprise to me” if India overlooks him. Highlighting the importance of swing bowling in England, he added, “To have someone that’s got that swing bowling ability and a left-armer… is something that the Indian team should definitely look out for.”
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