WTC Final: Virat Kohli will be the prize wicket for Aussies – Ponting

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting reflected on his conversation with India’s flamboyant batter Virat Kohli from the ongoing IPL 2023 season. Ponting revealed that Kohli feels back to his ‘best form’. He also stated that Kohli would be the prized scalp all Australians would look for in the forthcoming World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 Final.

The two fierce rivals are set to lock horns following the conclusion of the top-tier league. The WTC Final is scheduled to start on June 7 at the Oval in London. Ponting spoke about his interaction with Kohli after DC’s match against RCB in Bengaluru.

Ponting further added that Kohli felt he was at his ‘absolute best’. He cited Kohli’s scintillating ton against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on May 17.

“I caught up with Virat (Kohli) about a month ago when we played them in Bangalore. And I had a good chat to him about his batting and where he was at and his career. And he said to me then that he actually feels like he’s almost back to his absolute best,” Ponting said.

“You probably saw that last night (Kohli’s ton against SRH), you know, he’s had a very good IPL and I’m sure he’ll be the prize wicket that all the Australians are looking forward to,” he added.

The Indian players will think of workload management: Ricky Ponting

The BCCI will plan to manage the workload of the players ahead of the WTC Final. Ponting too highlighted workload management. He stated that the IPL players will look to balance both in order to put their best foot forward.

“The Indian players that are here playing in the IPL won’t only be thinking about the IPL. They’ll be on workload management stuff to make sure that they’re right to bowl in a Test match in a couple of weeks’ time,” Ponting added.