'There is another X factor that has been added' - Ricky Ponting backs Ishan Kishan's selection in India's WTC Final squad

Former Australia skipper, and a legend of Australian cricket- Ricky Ponting- recently unveiled the Test mace, for which India and Australia will be fighting at The Oval next month, starting June 7. The Indian and Australian contingent will shift focus to the World Test Championship Final 2021-23, which is set to take place after the ongoing IPL 2023.

Both India and Australia have announced the squads for the all-important event, and the competition is going to be fierce. Things have been a little bothersome for the Indian side as several senior players are out of the squad due to injuries. As a result, the selectors handpicked the best available options to prepare a strong squad.

Ponting believes that Ishan Kishan’s inclusion in the squad might help India succeed in the summit clash, calling the wicketkeeper-batter an X Factor. 

“But there is another X factor that has just been added in Ishan Kishan. If you look at the way he plays, he is probably the most like Rishabh Pant with his potential to keep and bat in the middle order,” Ponting said at an event organised by the International Cricket Council.

The best chance for India to achieve a result is by being a bit more adventurous: Ponting

Suryakumar Yadav was named one of the standby players in the squad, alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad and Mukesh Kumar. The three of them have had a good season in the domestic arena, but Ponting was surprised to see the World No. 1 T20I batter being included in the squad as a standby player. When asked if he should have been in the main squad, Ponting replied saying “Yes” and expressed surprise. Speaking further about how the youngsters like Kishan should take on the game, he said:

“If they do play those guys they should be given the right to play an aggressive brand of cricket. The best chance for India to achieve a result is by being a bit more adventurous in the way they play and Australia will try to do the same thing.”