ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting weighs in on Rohit Sharma “opting to rest” and Virat Kohli’s third umpire reprieve that stole headlines on an eventful first day of the final Border-Gavaskar Test in Sydney.
Ponting feels there was no surprise around Rohit Sharma’s absence from the India XI for the fifth Border-Gavaskar Test, but he remains intrigued by the wording around the decision.
Watching on as a Channel 7 commentator during day one play at the Sydney Cricket Ground with the tourists down 2-1 in the series and with only slim hopes of a World Test Championship Final, Ponting acknowledged the change came off the back of several days of speculation.
“I think the reaction has been that they all sort of expected that it might happen,” Ponting told The ICC Review at the SCG.
“The chat's been for the last couple of days that everyone expected that Rohit would not play this game, that Shubman Gill would come back in and that (Jasprit) Bumrah would probably take over the captaincy again and that's the way it's turned out,” he said.
The 37-year-old has already bid farewell to T20I cricket, bowing out a winner at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2024, while an ODI swansong could come after the Champions Trophy 2025.
Given his age, form and now that he’s not in the XI for a series-deciding Test match, Ponting feels it would take something special for Sharma to make another appearance in whites.
“You'd think it's probably a long way back for Rohit Sharma now in this format of the game,” Ponting said.“India don't play a Test match, I believe, until the middle or late June, which is a long way away when you're sort of coming to the back end of your career," he said.
“I think he's been a terrific player for India so with those sort of guys, you wish them all the best and hope to see them back out there again, but as I said, I think it will be a long - and probably difficult road - back for him,” Ponting said.
While not in disagreement on the rationale of Sharma missing the match, Ponting did ponder the wording of the news that came from the India camp as the news was revealed.
“I was very surprised when I heard the term ‘opting out’ coming into such an important game,” he said.“We know he's been a great stalwart for Indian cricket over a long period of time," Ponting said.“So the way that they've actually worded it, you can only take it on face value," he said.
“We've got to believe what we're hearing coming out of the Indian camp, but being such a big game, knowing that they have to win this one to retain the trophy, it was an interesting time for one of their more experienced players to opt out,” Ponting said.
Talking points around the regular Test captain took a back seat momentarily in the morning session, with another India veteran, Virat Kohli, the subject of headlines.
Walking out at 17/2, Kohli edged a delivery from Scott Boland towards Steve Smith at second slip, with Smith extending low to his right.
With the red Kookaburra wedged between his thumb and index finger, Smith went on to scoop the ball in the direction of Marnus Labuschagne - who caught the ball - before Kohli stood his ground.
Reviewing the replays, third umpire Joel Wilson deemed the ball touched the ground in the process of Smith trying to take the catch and thus not satisfying the conditions of a fair catch per MCC Law 33.
The moment drew plenty of discussion in the cricket community, with Ponting not convinced by the not-out decision.“I was in the back of the (commentary) box as it happened and from what I saw, and what I believe to be the interpretation of the rules, that seemed to be out to me,” Ponting said.
“The ball may have touched the ground. It may not have touched the ground, but the fact that his right index finger was still underneath the ball, I thought it was a clear catch,” he said.
Ponting admitted the limited angles available meant those watching could almost believe their own narrative.“It might be one of those ones that depends which dressing room he's (Kohli) sitting in as well," he said.
“Every Indian fan and Indian player will say that's not out as it clearly touched the ground, but you could tell by the reaction of the Australians when it happened and even when they saw the replay on the big screen that they were all pretty confident that it was out," ponting said.
“I'm sure over the course of this Test match we'll talk about it a whole lot more,” he added.Kohli was unbeaten as lunch was called, though was dismissed early in the middle session of day one, edging another Boland delivery to Beau Webster at third slip.(UNI)
