'Needs Lot Of Credit...': Ricky Ponting Lauds Axar Patel For Champions Trophy Win
Ricky Ponting believes the best sides require a mix of youth and experience, a trait that helped India forge an unbeaten run at the Champions Trophy.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has praised Indian allrounders’ efforts in helping their team win, with a special mention for Axar Patel, whom he said deserves a lot of credit in putting up a stellar performance with both bat and ball.
Ponting believes the best sides require a mix of youth and experience, a trait that helped India forge an unbeaten run at the Champions Trophy.
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Ponting said that while skipper Rohit Sharma and ace batter Virat Kohli’s experience was the backbone of India’s Champions Trophy success, they had top-notch support from their all-rounders.
“Their all-rounders right through the tournament were outstanding. (Ravindra) Jadeja, Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya were all outstanding. I said at the start of the tournament that I thought India would be hard to beat because of their overall balance and because of that mix of youth and experience and once again, in a final, the captain stands up and gets the job done for his team," Ponting said while speaking on the latest episode of ICC Review.
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With three all-rounders beginning in their playing XI in all five of their matches at the Champions Trophy, India flexed a brilliant batting depth while having an array of options to choose with the ball.
“They were a very well-balanced side anyway, but because they had so many all-rounders…when you’ve got Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, who they used up the order on several occasions for that left-handed option and with Jadeja there as well, they were a very well-balanced team," Ponting said.
“The only thing you would probably say, they probably looked a little bit light on fast bowling, but as it turned out, they didn’t need that," Ponting added.
Ponting lavished praise on Axar as well, who was a regular feature of the Indian team coming in to bat at No. 5.
“Axar Patel is the other one that I think needs a lot of credit for this tournament. I think his bowling was as consistent and rock solid as you’d ever see," Ponting said.
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