Ricky Ponting Hails India’s All-Rounders in Champions Trophy Triumph
In a recent edition of The ICC Review, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting showered praise on India’s all-rounders—Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Hardik Pandya—for their exceptional performances during the 2025 Champions Trophy, which India clinched under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. Ponting emphasized the critical role these players played in enhancing the depth and balance of the Indian batting lineup.
Ponting remarked, “Their all-rounders right through the tournament were outstanding. Jadeja, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, were all outstanding. I said at the start of the tournament I thought India would be really hard to beat because of their overall balance and because of that mix of youth and experience.” This balance proved vital in the final, where the captain delivered when it mattered most.
Batting Depth and Strategic Flexibility
According to Ponting, the trio of all-rounders provided India with remarkable batting depth. “They were a very well-balanced side anyway, but because they had so many all-rounders, when you’ve got Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, who they used up the order on a number of occasions, along with Jadeja, they were a very well-balanced team,” he stated.
Ponting also noted that while India may have appeared light on fast bowling at times, the contributions of Hardik Pandya were crucial. “That’s where Hardik Pandya’s role becomes really important to bowl with a new ball and get through some overs early,” he explained, underscoring the strategic advantage this brought to the Indian side.
Axar Patel’s Growth and Contributions
Axar Patel, in particular, received commendations for his growth as a batsman, thanks to his time with the Delhi Capitals under Ponting’s guidance. “Axar Patel deserves a lot of credit for his tournament. His bowling was consistent, and some of those little cameos he played with the bat helped steady the ship,” Ponting added.
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