'Kohli played a big role in...': Ricky Ponting opens up on Virat's influence in cricket ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting lavished praise on Virat Kohli for his captaincy. He reckoned that the stylish Indian batter played a big role in turning cricket around. Kohli is the first Indian captain to win a Test series on Australian soil. 

With his aggressive captaincy, Kohli made everyone believe that the Indian team can win overseas as well, and his confidence rubbed on the side even when he was not around.
 

"Going back to Kohli's start of captaincy, (he) played a big role in turning the cricket around, and (Rahul) Dravid has continued the same in the recent four years. The influence of someone like that (Kohli) around a team would be great, and they've got star players," Ponting told Sky Sports.

 

During the last Test series in Australia in 2020-21, Kohli left for India after the first match due to the birth of his daughter Vamika. But India, under the captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane, battled injuries and the absence of key players to eke out a historic 2–1 series win.

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"They won a game at the Gabba, which just doesn't happen. I think their batters adapt to overseas batting conditions very well. I don't think they're as daunted by the Gabba or the Optus Oval as they maybe once were. Maybe it is a selection thing, or they just don't fear the big stage anymore," observed Ponting.
 

Kohli last featured in the ODI series against Sri Lanka where the Rohit Sharma-led side lost the series 2-0. Now he will be seen in action in the upcoming two-Test match series against Bangladesh which is scheduled to start from September 19 and the first match will be played at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Kanpur's Green Park stadium will witness the second Test match. 

 

After the Bangladesh series, Team India will host New Zealand for the three-Test match series before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024. In total India will play 10 Test matches till January. 

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