XtraTime Web Desk: Indian cricket team’s star opener on Monday highly praised Ricky Ponting, as he termed the former Australian captain Ricky Ponting a batsman from another planet and he has the ability to bring out the best in everyone.
Rohit took part in an Instagram Live session with ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin where the two talked about Rohit’s captaincy stint with the Mumbai Indians.
“I feel Ponting is a guy from another planet. He knows how to bring out the best in someone. He has won two World Cups for Australia. So he knows how to win Championships,” Rohit told Ashwin.
“In 2013, we got Ricky Ponting in the auction. In 2012 Sachin paaji said that he would not lead Mumbai Indians and Bhajju paa (Harbhajan) was made the skipper. But in 2013, I don’t know why Bhajju paa wasn’t the captain. And I thought I will be made the captain, but then Ponting was bought in the auction,” said Rohit.
“Ponting was the first one to arrive in India for the 2013 season. He wanted to understand everyone. He said that he wanted to have a team bonding session first. In a way, it made a very positive impact on everyone. Ponting really motivated the younger guys,” he added.
Ricky Ponting was the coach of Mumbai Indians for three seasons and Rohit spent a lot of time with the former Australian skipper.
Rohit further talked about how Ponting stepped down as the skipper after not scoring runs in the first six matches of the IPL 2013.
“But then he was not scoring runs, he decided to step down as the skipper, but eventually Ponting called me and I was given the captaincy. Ponting actually was player-cum-coach during the 2013 season. He was always there to help me,” Rohit said.
Mumbai Indians has won the IPL maximum number of times. The side has managed to win the tournament four times — 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019.
Mumbai Indians defeated Chennai Super Kings by one run in the finals of the 2019 IPL.
All the title wins have come under the leadership of Rohit. He would have been in action for the Mumbai Indians had the IPL commenced from March 29.
However, the tournament has been suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.