Star Indian batsman Virat Kohli received high accolades from legendary Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who referred to him as the best ODI batter he had ever seen. In addition to leading the Men in Blue to a significant victory, Kohli’s undefeated century against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 moved him up to the top of the all-time list of international cricket run scorers.
The Men in Green chose to bat first and set a goal of 241 runs in 49.4 overs in the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match played in Dubai on February 23. Mohammad Rizwan (46), Khushdil Shah (38), and Saud Shakeel (62) also added to the score, but Kohli once again served as the cornerstone of India’s pursuit. The seasoned batsman, whose form has under criticism, scored an outstanding 100* from 111 balls.
This century was Kohli’s 51st in the 50-over format and his first-ever century in the Champions Trophy. Ponting expressed his opinion that Kohli has the best chance to finish his career as the all-time top run scorer in ODIs during an interview with the ICC Review Podcast.
“You never write someone like Virat off because, I believe, he would be inspired by that [setting the record].” He wants to give himself the best chance to be recognized as the game’s all-time top run scorer now that he’s passed me and has just two runs left to go. He definitely works really hard on that aspect of his game and is likely in the best physical shape of his life as long as the hunger is there. Therefore, I’m never going to write him off if the hunger persists,” the Australian stated.
Big games equal big names, I’ve always said: Ricky Ponting
The Delhi native is currently 4341 runs short of Sachin Tendulkar‘s legendary ODI record and just 149 runs away from matching Kumar Sangakkara’s total. Ponting acknowledged the difficulty of accomplishing these goals but expressed confidence that Kohli’s drive and physical prowess would sustain him.
“I am aware that he is presently pleasant and near Sangakkara. It won’t be long, perhaps the following game before he surpasses Sangakkara. However, there is still some work to be done to catch Sachin. It’s clear that he has been a champion player for a very long time. And especially in the white-ball formats, where he has demonstrated incredible skill in the 50-over game,” Ponting stated.
“In fact, I think I’m on record before saying I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better 50-over player than Virat Kohli,” Ricky Ponting said.
His century against Pakistan is only one example of how the former Indian captain has distinguished himself from others by performing well under pressure. Given that Kohli excels in high-pressure situations, Ponting was not taken aback by his bravery.
You see, I’ve always maintained that huge games equate to big stars. When the stakes are high, you need your big stars to step up. And a match against Pakistan is the biggest match for India. Therefore, I’m not surprised that that occurred. It sounds a lot like what we would say anytime we play England, in my opinion.
Your performance in the most important competitions on the global scene shapes your reputation. And there’s no greater moment than when Pakistan batted first on a challenging wicket on Sunday night. A match-winning innings like that required a player at the top of the order. And once more, it was Kohli who finished the job,” the former said.
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