India’s Cricket World Cup journey has kicked off with a bang, as they’ve secured resounding victories over Australia, Afghanistan, and their long-standing rivals, Pakistan.
India’s Stellar Performance in the World Cup
These three wins have catapulted India to the top of the leaderboard, dispelling any doubts about the team’s ability to handle the intense pressure of playing in front of their ardent supporters.
Ricky Ponting’s Take on Rohit Sharma’s Leadership
Ricky Ponting, a two-time World Cup-winning captain, has identified skipper Rohit Sharma as the driving force behind India’s ability to rise to the occasion amidst the fervor of home support.
“Rohit is very laid-back in his approach, both on and off the field,” Ponting shared with the ICC, courtesy of DP World’s smart perspectives. “His calm demeanor will help him cope with the immense pressure of the tournament better than most,” he added.
Rohit Sharma’s Captaincy Journey
Since December 2021, Rohit has been leading India in ODIs, taking over from Virat Kohli in both white-ball formats. Ponting believes that Rohit’s leadership is crucial as India hosts the prestigious event, allowing Kohli to concentrate on his batting prowess.
“Rohit’s personality is more suited to handle the pressure compared to someone like Virat, who is more emotive and tends to engage more with the fans,” Ponting opined. “Rohit has been an exceptional player for a long time and has done a commendable job as India’s leader.”
India’s Hunt for the Third World Cup Title
India last clinched the Cricket World Cup in 2011 when the tournament was co-hosted by three countries, including India. Despite leveraging home support to win the final against co-host Sri Lanka at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, India is still on the quest for their third World Cup title.
Ponting’s Prediction for India’s World Cup Journey
Former Australian cricket legend Ponting believes that the trophy is within India’s grasp this time. “From the start, I’ve believed that they’re the team to beat. They have a highly talented team, with their fast bowling, spin, and top-order, middle-order batting. They’ll be tough to beat, but it’ll be interesting to see how they handle the extreme pressure,” Ponting concluded.