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India’s historic 295-run victory in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has left cricket pundits and fans alike in awe. With the second Test—a Pink Ball Day-Night encounter at Adelaide—around the corner, Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting is impressed by India’s evolving dominance, particularly on overseas pitches. Ponting, a former World Cup-winning captain, shared his views on India’s performance and the changing dynamics of Indian cricket with Cricbuzz.
India Thriving Abroad
Ponting, once skeptical of India’s ability to consistently win abroad, now believes the team plays better on fast, bouncy tracks than on their traditionally spin-friendly home surfaces. “Indian batsmen are no longer the kings of their backyard; they’ve transformed into masters of overseas conditions,” he remarked. Highlighting Yashasvi Jaiswal’s maiden century and Nitish Reddy’s gritty knock in Perth, Ponting acknowledged that these performances underline India’s growing strength in navigating tough wickets.
Praise for Young Stars
The spotlight on young talents like Jaiswal and Reddy excites Ponting. “To have a youngster like Jaiswal score a century on a challenging Perth wicket shows the depth of talent. This generation of Indian players thrives in tough conditions,” Ponting noted. He further emphasized how these performances prove India’s adaptability and grit, contrasting it with struggles on home turf against strong opposition.
Victory Against Odds
Despite missing key players like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Mohammed Shami, India stunned Australia with a massive win in Perth. Ponting lauded the resilience and fightback shown by the team after being bowled out for 150 in the first innings. “It was a shock win, but a well-deserved one,” Ponting stated, noting how the turnaround exemplified the team’s fighting spirit.
Bumrah’s Leadership Shines
Jasprit Bumrah’s leadership drew high praise from Ponting. As stand-in captain, Bumrah set the tone with a fiery opening spell, finishing the match with eight wickets. “Bumrah led from the front. His bowling in the first innings was incredible and laid the foundation for India’s success,” Ponting explained.
The Toss Factor
Ponting also highlighted the importance of winning the toss at the Optus Stadium, a venue where batting first has historically been advantageous. By capitalizing on this, India maintained control and ensured a commanding victory.
As the Adelaide Test looms, Ponting’s observations provide an exciting narrative: India, once seen as dependent on home conditions, now stands tall as a global powerhouse capable of thriving in any scenario.
