Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 7: Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes India is better equipped than most teams to handle the monumental challenge of replacing Test legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The two Indian batting stalwarts recently announced their retirement from Test cricket, leaving a significant void in the national setup.
India’s upcoming five-Test series in England, starting June 20 in Leeds and continuing until August 2025, marks the beginning of a new era under the leadership of young captain Shubman Gill. The squad features a blend of rising talent and IPL standouts like Dhruv Jurel, Karun Nair, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Sai Sudharsan, who now carry the responsibility of performing in tough English conditions.
Speaking to the ICC Review, Ponting acknowledged the magnitude of the transition:
“It is always very hard to replace players like that that have been around for so long, that have played that much Test cricket. But if any country can do it and do it quickly, India can because of the amount of young talent they have.”
He cited his IPL experience to highlight India’s talent depth:
“I’ve seen it firsthand for 10 years in the IPL. We’ve seen the emergence of players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, who’ve stepped up quickly at the international level.”
While Ponting feels India can match the skill level, he pointed out the loss of experience as the real challenge.
“Skill-wise, they’ll manage. But it’s the experience they’ll miss. Even with a young captain like Gill, they still have some experienced heads in KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah to lean on.”
He concluded optimistically:
“If you talk about a rebuilding phase, India can cope with it better than most other teams.”
A Look Back at Two Modern Giants:
- Rohit Sharma, who debuted in Tests in 2013, retires after 67 matches with 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and a best of 212. He shone particularly during the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), becoming India’s top run-scorer in the tournament’s history.
- Virat Kohli, who made his Test debut in 2011, exits as one of India’s greatest with 9,230 runs in 123 matches, averaging 46.85 with 30 centuries. He’s India’s fourth-highest run-getter in Tests and its most successful Test captain, winning 40 out of 68 matches. His leadership redefined India’s approach to the longest format, instilling top-tier fitness standards and a bold, aggressive mindset.
As India steps into a new chapter in Test cricket, the team’s ability to transition smoothly will be tested in one of the toughest overseas environments. The road ahead may be challenging, but Ponting’s faith in India’s bench strength offers fans hope for a strong new era.