‘I don’t mind a bit of pressure’: ‘Calm’ Cooper Connolly announces arrival | Cricket News – The Times of India
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‘I don’t mind a bit of pressure’: ‘Calm’ Cooper Connolly announces arrival | Cricket News – The Times of India


‘I don’t mind a bit of pressure’: ‘Calm’ Cooper Connolly announces arrival | Cricket News – The Times of India
Punjab Kings’ Cooper Connolly celebrates his half-century. (ANI Photo)

NEW CHANDIGARH: He woke up in the morning with nerves on Tuesday. “Which I was really happy about,” Cooper Connolly said after leading Punjab Kings to a three-wicket win over Gujarat Titans.For Connolly, it wasn’t the nerves, but the “happiness” about having them. That small detail captures something essential about this 22-year-old from Perth. He doesn’t run from pressure. And on Tuesday night in New Chandigarh, he walked out to bat like a man arriving exactly where he was always meant to be.

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Greenstone Lobo predicts IPL 2026 winner

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!By the time he was done, Connolly had scored an unbeaten 72 off 44, guided Punjab to their first win of IPL-2026, taking Player of the Match honours on IPL debut, and left his new teammate Yuzvendra Chahal making declarations on his behalf.“He’s only 20 something but has the hunger to excel on the big stage,” Chahal said in the post-match presser. “The way he performed in his very first match, batting at No. 3, playing a match-winning innings, shows how mature he is mentally.”Awareness is a word that comes up often around Connolly. It is there in how he builds an innings and in how he resists the urge to overhit. He describes himself as: “I’m just more of a tempo player, try to feel the flow of my hands, I don’t hit too many big sixes, it’s more about timing.”Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer offered something more considered than ordinary praise. “I’ve seen him in the past as well, playing for Australia. He’s got a great mindset and hopefully he continues with the same form,” Iyer said.Connolly has modelled himself after Shaun Marsh, the former Australian left-handed opening batsman who too came from Western Australia like Connolly. There is also something poetic that Connolly now plays for the very franchise Marsh once represented. “Shaun Marsh played for the Punjab Kings, and I grew up watching him. It’s sort of an honour to play for the same franchise as him,” Connolly said.Connolly also credited Punjab head coach Ricky Ponting for easing the pressure on him. “Ricky Ponting just kept me calm and collected,” Connolly said. “He told me to play my game, go out there and dominate. It was a nice team performance. We were very strong with the ball and made things easier for ourselves.”

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Do you believe Cooper Connolly will continue to perform well under pressure in future matches?

Connolly traces his journey through the WACA’s (Western Australia Cricket Association) development pipeline. He is part of a generation that came of age in the Big Bash League’s glare, while still respecting the grind of Sheffield Shield cricket. He also captained Australia at the 2022 ICC Under-19 World Cup.His big-match temperament was first seen in the 2022-23 BBL final, where he hit an unbeaten 25 off 11 balls in just his second T20 innings to lift Perth Scorchers to the title. His first-class debut arrived in the 2023-24 Sheffield Shield final against Tasmania, where he scored 90 in the first innings as Western Australia won the title. First big-format match, high pressure game and a game-changing knock. There is a pattern here, and it is not coincidental. “I actually don’t mind a bit of pressure. I feel like that suits the sort of style of person I am,” Connolly stated.


‘Ponting once again proved right’: Ashwin on Punjab Kings’ bold call vs Gujarat Titans | Cricket News – The Times of India
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‘Ponting once again proved right’: Ashwin on Punjab Kings’ bold call vs Gujarat Titans | Cricket News – The Times of India


‘Ponting once again proved right’: Ashwin on Punjab Kings’ bold call vs Gujarat Titans | Cricket News – The Times of India
Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting chats with captain Shreyas Iyer. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin heaped praise on Ricky Ponting for a decisive team selection call after Punjab Kings edged past Gujarat Titans in a tense IPL 2026 clash, stating that the legendary Australian “once again proved right.”Punjab secured a narrow three-wicket win, but it was the impact of lesser-expected contributors that caught Ashwin’s attention. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin admitted he had initially questioned the decision to include Xavier Bartlett over Azmatullah Omarzai.

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Greenstone Lobo predicts IPL 2026 winner

“I thought before the start of the game that Azmatullah Omarzai should play. Dude, why is Bartlett playing? But the way Bartlett bowled and batted, Ricky Ponting once again proved right by filling all the overseas slots with Australians,” Ashwin said.Bartlett may not have made a major impact with the ball, returning 0/36 in four overs, but he played a crucial cameo with the bat. Coming in at No. 9, he released pressure in the penultimate over by smashing Prasidh Krishna for a six off his very first ball, shifting momentum back in Punjab’s favour.Connolly’s composure seals the dealWhile Bartlett provided late fireworks, it was young Australian Cooper Connolly who anchored the chase with a mature knock of 72 off 44 balls on his IPL debut, earning the Player of the Match award.

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Was including Xavier Bartlett over Azmatullah Omarzai a good decision?

Ashwin was particularly impressed with the 22-year-old’s temperament under pressure. “This is his first game in the IPL. It isn’t easy. The guy comes from Australia and has never played cricket in India. It wasn’t a bouncy-type wicket; it was a skiddy wicket and he adapted and played a very good innings,” he said.“There was a lot of pressure near the end; even then, he held his nerve and finished the chase well. He is only 22 years old and he performed so well in the BBL that he opened everyone’s eyes,” Ashwin added.Despite a brief collapse triggered by Gujarat, Punjab’s young core and Ponting’s tactical decisions ensured they began their campaign on a winning note, reinforcing Ashwin’s belief that experience in the dugout continues to make a telling difference.


PBKS vs GT: In this run-fest, can bowlers claw back? | Cricket News – The Times of India
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PBKS vs GT: In this run-fest, can bowlers claw back? | Cricket News – The Times of India


PBKS vs GT: In this run-fest, can bowlers claw back? | Cricket News – The Times of India
Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden (Video grab)

NEW CHANDIGARH: There is a particular sound that has come to define the IPL evening these days — not the applause of a boundary, but the thud of a ball disappearing several rows back, followed by a collective murmur that asks: How far did that go?In this version of T20 cricket, now 200 is not even a par total. For the bowlers, increasingly in the IPL, it feels like survival rather than contest.

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Greenstone Lobo predicts IPL 2026 winner

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden, two men who spent much of their careers making bowlers’ lives miserable, now sit in IPL dugouts as coaches and watch their bowlers suffer.The IPL, always a batter’s playground, has leaned into excess nowadays. The Impact Player rule, Punjab Kings’ Ponting suggested, hasn’t just deepened batting line-ups; it has liberated them. “It’s a really hard thing for the bowlers now,” Ponting said. “The modern T20 batter… they’re big, strong athletes. The bowler has to miss by a couple of inches on line or on length, and they pay the penalty. The ball is going over the fence and it’s going a long way over.”ALSO READ: India’s overlooked stars Gill, Iyer in focus as PBKS host GT “The margin for error has shrunk to something almost invisible,” said Gujarat Titans’ Hayden, “Once upon a time in the IPL, the approach was incremental… from taking a single to hitting a six. Now, it is on the other spectrum. Six, four… then maybe a single. It is a reversal not just of order, but of philosophy.”When intent is this absolute, how do you disrupt it? The answers, both coaches agree, are not revolutionary, but old-fashioned and executed with precision.Hayden listed them out like a checklist: wide yorkers, yorkers at the stumps, slower offcutters into the pitch. “Variations are not new, accuracy is everything. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist,” Hayden said, “But you do have to be near-perfect.”Ponting leaned into the tactical. “Change of angles, better use of the bouncer. The search for the unfamiliar — a mystery spinner, perhaps, someone who can buy a few deliveries of doubt in a format that rarely allows it,” he said.


EXCLUSIVE | Cooper Connolly looks to learn, grow, and emulate Shaun Marsh at Punjab Kings | Cricket News – The Times of India
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EXCLUSIVE | Cooper Connolly looks to learn, grow, and emulate Shaun Marsh at Punjab Kings | Cricket News – The Times of India


EXCLUSIVE | Cooper Connolly looks to learn, grow, and emulate Shaun Marsh at Punjab Kings | Cricket News – The Times of India
Cooper Connolly was bought by Punjab Kings for Rs 3 crore during last year’s IPL mini auction.

NEW DELHI: Last September in humid Lucknow, Cooper Connolly had a long chat with India A captain Shreyas Iyer. Part of the Australia A squad, Connolly picked Iyer’s brain on tackling spin.The 22-year-old then struck a fluent 70, but little did he know that the 25-minute conversation at the Ekana Cricket Stadium had left a lasting impression on Iyer, now the captain of Punjab Kings.

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The making of Cooper Connolly: Australia’s 22-year-old star

A couple of months later, Punjab Kings snapped up the youngster for Rs 3 crore at the IPL mini auction.“Luckily, he was there, and we had a good conversation. It was all about cricket,” Cooper Connolly told TimeofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.

Cooper Connolly and Marcus Stoinis

Cooper Connolly with his fellow Australian teammate Marcus Stoinis at the New Chandigarh Stadium in Mohali. (Photo Credit: Punjab Kings)

“Look, he’s a world-class player. I love watching him bat. It just looks so easy. So it would be nice to pick his brain, understand him a bit, see how he goes about batting in Indian conditions, and put into practice what I can for my game in India. I’m just looking forward to learning from him,” said Connolly on playing alongside Iyer.Cooper Connolly said his primary goal is to gain experience, learn from top players, and challenge himself against the best in the IPL. He expressed gratitude for being picked by Punjab Kings, calling it an honour, and is eager to grow under the guidance of the coaching staff and captain Shreyas, regardless of whether he gets to play.

The moment one of the paddles went up for me was just a moment where I thought, OK, I am going to go and challenge myself against the best in the world.

Cooper Connolly | Punjab Kings

“It felt so nice when the paddle went up. It was obviously nice,” he said.“I think the main goal initially was just hoping that I would get picked up.“Now it is just to go there, experience some quality cricket against some quality opposition, and learn from some quality players at Punjab and obviously a great coaching staff at Punjab.

Cooper Connolly, Marcus Stoinis and Priyansh Arya

Cooper Connolly (left) with jhis Punjab Kings teammates Marcus Stoinis and Priyansh Arya. (Photo Courtesy: Punjab Kings)

“The moment one of the paddles went up for me was just a moment where I thought, OK, I’m going to go and challenge myself against the best in the world. It’s obviously nice to get auctioned off for more than what I thought. It’s just an honour to be a part of it and challenge myself against some quality opposition and just try to learn as much as I can, whether I play or not. I’m just looking forward to getting over there and learning and honing my skill sets,” he said.For Cooper Connolly, it has been a rollercoaster few months. He has made his international debut for Australia in all three formats and bagged an IPL contract. He admits that he has not had the chance to reflect because it has been surreal.The youngster did not have a good series against Pakistan, where he looked all at sea. Then, in the T20 World Cup, he played only two matches and did reasonably well: taking three wickets in two games.

He [Shaun Marsh] is someone I can approach for a chat about cricket and his approach. More than anything, it’s the way he plays that I try to model my game on, how he gives himself a chance in every format, his timing, and his ability to find the boundary. For me, it is about reaching out to him when the time feels right.

Cooper Connolly | Punjab Kings

Now at Mullanpur, the youngster will have a chance to work with ex-Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, and over the next two-and-a-half months, he will have a chance to correct his technical glitches and become a more well-rounded all-round prospect.The Perth-born Cooper Connolly, who has modelled his batting on Shaun Marsh, is also looking to emulate his idol.“He’s someone I can approach for a chat about cricket and his approach. More than anything, it’s the way he plays that I try to model my game on, how he gives himself a chance in every format, his timing, and his ability to find the boundary. For me, it’s about reaching out to him when the time feels right.

Poll

What aspect of Cooper Connolly’s journey excites you the most?

“He’s been really good to me. I’ve always enjoyed watching him bat, and even now I go back to his highlights, especially his hundreds. It’s about picking certain attributes from his batting and trying to incorporate them into my own game, because he was world-class,” said Connolly.Punjab Kings will play their first match on March 31 at home against Gujarat Titans, and Connolly has teamed up with the squad and is ready for the biggest few weeks of his career, which could shape his future.


Abhishek Sharma had ‘six-hitting skills from the start’, teammate reveals untold story | Cricket News – The Times of India
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Abhishek Sharma had ‘six-hitting skills from the start’, teammate reveals untold story | Cricket News – The Times of India


Abhishek Sharma had ‘six-hitting skills from the start’, teammate reveals untold story | Cricket News – The Times of India
India’s Abhishek Sharma (ANI Photo)

Abhishek Sharma entered the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as the No.1-ranked batter, expected to dominate with his aggressive strokeplay after a breakthrough 2025 season. However, the tournament turned into an early struggle for the 25-year-old, who began with three consecutive ducks and added a few more low scores, leading to criticism and questions over his place in the XI. Despite the poor start, Abhishek found his rhythm at a crucial stage. A composed 55 against Zimbabwe in the Super 8s hinted at a turnaround before he delivered when it mattered most. In the final against New Zealand, he smashed a 21-ball 52, putting on a 98-run opening stand with Sanju Samson to set up India’s title-winning victory. Having entered the tournament as the top-ranked batter, it was a campaign that tested both his methods and temperament before ending on a high. In an interaction with TOI, his long-time childhood friend and Punjab teammate Nehal Wadhera opened up on Abhishek’s journey, recalling how his talent was evident from a very young age. “Abhishek and I have been playing together since Under-14. So, yes, Abhishek definitely had those hitting skills from the start,” Wadhera said. He went on to recount a memorable Under-16 game that underlined Abhishek’s ability to perform under pressure. “I still remember when, in the Under-16 state tournament, he was captaining us. Him, me, Shubman, Prabhsimran, Naman Dhir — every one of us was together, and we won the championship that year as well. There was a game against Gujarat where we were chasing 410 on a turning track on the last day. Abhishek and Shubman chased it down. I think one made 150 and the other made 180. We always knew what he was capable of.” Wadhera emphasised that the aggressive batter the world sees today is a result of both natural ability and sustained hard work. “The game that we are watching now, we already knew about it. But he has definitely worked on it. How he has maximised the opportunities in the powerplay is really commendable. All thanks to Yuvraj Singh and his father, who coach and mentor him.” From watching Abhishek’s rise, Wadhera has also built his own path in the IPL, growing steadily as a dependable middle-order batter.

Learning from Ricky Ponting

Wadhera spoke about the impact of head coach Ricky Ponting at Punjab Kings, recalling his first interaction during a camp in Dharamshala. “That was the first time I met him. He’s a very jolly person, always positive and always keeping the environment happy,” Wadhera said. “When I was hitting boundaries and sixes, he was appreciating me. I even asked him about his mindset while playing international cricket and how he handled fast bowlers during his time.” “For a head coach, maintaining a positive environment is the most important thing. I think he’s doing a really good job.”

Playing under Rohit Sharma

Wadhera began his IPL career with Mumbai Indians, making his debut under Rohit Sharma, an experience he still values highly.

Rohit Sharma with Priyansh Arya and Nehal Wadhera

Rohit Sharma with Priyansh Arya and Nehal Wadhera (PTI Photo)

“I was fortunate enough to make my debut under Rohit Sharma. He’s someone I idolised growing up. I’ll always be grateful. I really enjoyed my time with MI as well, the two years I was there.”

Leadership of Shreyas Iyer

Now part of the Punjab Kings setup, Wadhera highlighted what sets captain Shreyas Iyer apart. “He has a different aura. He encourages players to play freely, regardless of results. That gives a lot of confidence.”

Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera

Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera (ANI Photo)

He added that such freedom allows players to express themselves fully and carry their domestic form onto the IPL stage without fear. Wadhera’s own IPL journey reflects steady growth. He made his debut in 2023, scoring two half-centuries in his first season. While opportunities were limited in 2024, he still made an impression with a 49 off 24 in his comeback match. After being released ahead of the 2025 Mega auction, he attracted interest from multiple franchises before Punjab Kings secured him for INR 4.20 crore. He justified that investment by scoring 369 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of over 145, playing a key role in the team’s run to the final.

Nehal Wadhera

Nehal Wadhera

Looking ahead, Wadhera remains firmly focused on collective success rather than personal milestones, especially after Punjab Kings fell agonisingly short last season. “There are personal goals, but I’ll speak about them once they are fulfilled. The only goal right now is to win the trophy.” Having missed out on the title by the narrowest of margins — a six-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final — Wadhera is determined to go one better this time. With a settled core, clearly defined roles and strong backing from the management, Punjab Kings head into IPL 2026 with renewed belief as they aim to turn last year’s heartbreak into silverware.

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Pathan explains ‘identification of talent’ as reason why DC, PBKS haven’t won IPL yet | Cricket News – The Times of India
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Pathan explains ‘identification of talent’ as reason why DC, PBKS haven’t won IPL yet | Cricket News – The Times of India


Pathan explains ‘identification of talent’ as reason why DC, PBKS haven’t won IPL yet | Cricket News – The Times of India
Delhi Capitals (ANI Photo)

Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings will once again begin their quest for a maiden Indian Premier League title when the 2026 season kicks off on March 28. Both franchises, despite nearly two decades in the competition, are yet to lift the trophy.Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who has represented both teams, reflected on their journeys and highlighted key reasons behind their prolonged title drought.

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IPL 2026 should be audition for the next India T20I captain

Speaking on JioStar, Pathan pointed out that Delhi struggled with talent identification during the early 2010s, which hindered their progress.“When I was in Delhi, Eric Simmons, who is now with CSK as the bowling coach, was the coach, and there was an effort to bring stability. But when you let go of players like AB de Villiers, and you have Andre Russell, starting from scratch is not easy. I played alongside Russell in the same dressing room, and there were a lot of discussions about giving him more opportunities, but they just couldn’t find a place for him consistently in the XI. So, identification of talent is very important, and I feel Delhi used to fall short in that area,” Pathan said.Punjab, on the other hand, have shown signs of progress in recent seasons. Ahead of IPL 2025, the franchise made significant changes by appointing Australian great Ricky Ponting as head coach and signing Shreyas Iyer for ₹26.75 crore. The team enjoyed a strong campaign and reached the final before falling short against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.Pathan credited Punjab’s improved leadership and strategic planning for their resurgence.“Leadership has played a huge role in Punjab’s turnaround. You win half the IPL at the auction table. Big purses don’t necessarily mean you will always get what you want, but they did, and they reached the final. Even in the mini-auction, they took bold but important calls, like letting go of players who were not performing, such as Glenn Maxwell,” he explained.He also referred to the situation involving Josh Inglis, noting how circumstances impacted their plans.“They were a bit unfortunate with the Josh Inglis situation, given he would miss most of the season, but then you see another team going after him for a huge price. In that respect, they are making a lot of the right decisions,” Pathan added.Another key improvement, according to Pathan, has been Punjab’s focus on strengthening their squad depth.“Look at the backup players. In the past, Punjab struggled with that when the focus was entirely on building the first XI, but now you see all-rounders like Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen and Marcus Stoinis, along with a young Indian batting core. Apart from that, they went all-out for Shreyas Iyer after deciding he would be the Captain. So, there is clarity of thought, and I feel Punjab have started to move in the right direction,” he concluded.As IPL 2026 approaches, both Delhi and Punjab will be aiming to finally break their title drought, armed with lessons from the past and renewed optimism for the future.

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‘Hard to argue’: Ricky Ponting reveals ‘overlooked’ factor in India’s T20 World Cup success | Cricket News – The Times of India
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‘Hard to argue’: Ricky Ponting reveals ‘overlooked’ factor in India’s T20 World Cup success | Cricket News – The Times of India


‘Hard to argue’: Ricky Ponting reveals ‘overlooked’ factor in India’s T20 World Cup success | Cricket News – The Times of India
Ricky Ponting (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has praised the India national cricket team after their dominant victory in the T20 World Cup 2026, calling the current Indian side one of the strongest T20 teams ever. India secured their third T20 World Cup title with a convincing 96-run win over the New Zealand national cricket team in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Jay Shah calls 2019 to 2026 as Indian cricket’s golden period

The win also made India the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup.

Ponting praises India’s depth and consistency

Ponting highlighted India’s impressive performances in recent ICC tournaments and their strong record in white-ball cricket. According to him, the team’s combination of talent, experience and depth makes them extremely difficult to beat.“It’s really hard to argue a point against that. If you look at this, not just the T20I team but their white-ball record in ICC events over the last five or six years, it’s quite remarkable,” Ponting said on International Cricket Council’s The ICC Review.“A lot of people probably identified before this tournament started the depth and the strength that this current Indian team had, and also the experience that they have.“This is a very, very strong Indian white-ball team, not just a T20 team. Back-to-back World Cups, hats off to them.”

Experience and IPL influence

The former Australian captain believes the players’ experience from both international cricket and the Indian Premier League has helped them handle pressure situations better.“The one thing that’s probably overlooked with this current team is the amount of experience and the amount of cricket a lot of these guys have played, whether it’s international cricket or even just the IPL,” said Ponting, who is also head coach of Punjab Kings.“The IPL games are every bit as big as international games anyway, so this Indian team came in well primed with great balance and a great squad.”

Learning from a rare defeat

India had suffered a defeat against the South Africa national cricket team during the Super Eight stage, but Ponting felt the loss actually helped the team refocus.“You win 12 matches on the trot, there’s bound to be an off day. And I am glad it’s come early. It might just be the shake-up India needed,” he said. “They would have learned from that experience and won’t take things for granted.”After that loss, India bounced back strongly with powerful batting displays, scoring over 250 runs in three matches, including the semifinal and the final.“Maybe it just allowed them to regroup, get together and talk about the things that are important to them as a team,” Ponting added. “They solidified what they felt was their strongest playing XI and didn’t make many changes at the back end of the tournament.”

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‘He didn’t have a great time as a player, but he lifted the World Cup’: Ricky Ponting on Suryakumar Yadav | Cricket News – The Times of India
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‘He didn’t have a great time as a player, but he lifted the World Cup’: Ricky Ponting on Suryakumar Yadav | Cricket News – The Times of India


‘He didn’t have a great time as a player, but he lifted the World Cup’: Ricky Ponting on Suryakumar Yadav | Cricket News – The Times of India

NEW DELHI: Big tournaments often reveal the finer aspects of leadership, and former Australia captain Ricky Ponting observed plenty of that in the way India navigated their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign under skipper Suryakumar Yadav.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!India entered the tournament as favourites, carrying high expectations while also dealing with form concerns within the squad. The captain himself endured a difficult campaign with the bat. Apart from a rescue knock of 84* off 49 balls in the opener against USA, Yadav scored 158 runs across the remaining eight innings. Despite that, he guided the team to peak at the most crucial moments.

Suryakumar Yadav receives grand homecoming after India’s T20 World Cup win

Ponting believes the true measure of captaincy often lies behind closed doors.“It’s about a lot more than what they do off the field, the things that people don’t see and how they interact with their players,” Ponting said as per the ICC website.The Australian great also pointed out that leading a side becomes even tougher when a captain’s personal form dips, something Yadav experienced during the tournament.“He didn’t have a great time himself as a player, but still he’s standing at the end holding up a World Cup trophy,” Ponting noted. “I know, as a former captain, when you’re not batting at your absolute best, captaincy can become really difficult. And when you are batting well, captaincy can become really easy.”Ponting also highlighted how Yadav managed players under pressure, especially those struggling with form and confidence.“It would have been really interesting to see how Surya has interacted with Abhishek (Sharma) and Sanju (Samson) over the last few weeks. That’s where the real stories will come out on true leadership,” he added.Abhishek Sharma, the ICC No. 1-ranked T20I batter, had a turbulent run during the tournament. He registered three consecutive ducks, followed by low scores of 15, 10 and 9, and managed only one fifty before the final. However, on the biggest stage of the tournament, he found his form again, smashing 52 off 21 balls and recording the fastest fifty of the 2026 edition in just 18 deliveries.“You don’t have to worry about the staples, it’s more the guys on the fringe and the younger guys going up and down with their emotions and battling with their form, the ones you have to spend the most time with,” he noted.A key tournament decision came at the top of the order when Sanju Samson was given renewed backing. His first opportunity came early in the campaign as cover for Sharma, but he was dropped again before being recalled for a crucial fixture against Zimbabwe. Samson seized the opportunity and turned it into a dominant run.A blistering 97* in a virtual knockout against West Indies sparked his surge. He followed it up with scores of 89 (42) in the semifinal against England and 89 (46) in the final against New Zealand. In just five innings, Samson amassed 321 runs — the most by an Indian in a single T20 World Cup.Ponting emphasised the importance of India’s faith in the wicketkeeper-batter.“For India to stick with him at the top there, that was a big call to make. A big decision, but one that worked out really well in the end,” he said. “If you get the backing of the coaching staff and the captain, then that’s all you need… Just a pat on the back or an arm around the shoulder to say, ‘we’re sticking with you, we believe in you.”“When you’ve got the quality that Sanju’s got, and the confidence of the captain and coach behind you, that’s when great things can happen,” he concluded.

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‘That’s all you need’: Ricky Ponting reveals ‘big decision’ behind India’s T20 World Cup title | Cricket News – The Times of India
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‘That’s all you need’: Ricky Ponting reveals ‘big decision’ behind India’s T20 World Cup title | Cricket News – The Times of India


‘That’s all you need’: Ricky Ponting reveals ‘big decision’ behind India’s T20 World Cup title | Cricket News – The Times of India
Ricky Ponting speaks about Team India’s T20 World Cup-winning campaign

NEW DELHI: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has praised India’s decision to back Sanju Samson as an opener during their victorious campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. According to Ponting, the trust shown in Samson by captain Suryakumar Yadav and the coaching staff played a major role in India’s success.Samson’s tournament did not start smoothly. Before the World Cup, he had scored only 46 runs in five T20Is against New Zealand national cricket team. He initially got a chance in the league match against Namibia national cricket team in New Delhi after Abhishek Sharma fell ill. Later, he was brought back for a key Super Eight game against Zimbabwe national cricket team and turned his tournament around with a series of brilliant performances.

IPL 2026 should be audition for the next India T20I captain

Samson played some crucial knocks as India advanced in the competition. He scored an unbeaten 97 against West Indies national cricket team in Kolkata, followed by 89 in the semifinal against England national cricket team in Mumbai and another 89 in the final against New Zealand national cricket team in Ahmedabad. His total of 321 runs in five innings became the most by an Indian batter in a single T20 World Cup edition and earned him the Player of the Tournament award.“For India to stick with him at the top there, that was a big call to make. A big decision, but one that worked out really well in the end. If you get the backing of the coaching staff and the captain, then that’s all you need,” Ponting said on The ICC Review show.“Just a pat on the back or an arm around the shoulder to say, ‘we’re sticking with you, we believe in you.’ When you’ve got the quality that Sanju’s got, and the confidence of the captain and coach behind you, that’s when great things can happen.”Ponting also praised Suryakumar’s leadership and how he managed his players during the tournament. “It would have been really interesting to see how Surya has interacted with Abhishek (Sharam) and Sanju (Samson) over the last few weeks. That’s where the real stories will come out on true leadership.”Despite not scoring heavily himself apart from an unbeaten 84 against the United States national cricket team, Suryakumar guided India to the title. Ponting concluded, “It’s about a lot more than what they do off the field, the things that people don’t see and how they interact with their players. He didn’t have a great time himself as a player, but still, he’s standing at the end holding up a World Cup trophy.”

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Harbhajan Singh reflects on historic 2001 Eden Gardens Test: ‘I was born in Punjab, but made in Kolkata’ | Cricket News – The Times of India
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Harbhajan Singh reflects on historic 2001 Eden Gardens Test: ‘I was born in Punjab, but made in Kolkata’ | Cricket News – The Times of India


Harbhajan Singh reflects on historic 2001 Eden Gardens Test: ‘I was born in Punjab, but made in Kolkata’ | Cricket News – The Times of India
File Pic: Harbhajan Singh during the Eden Gardens Test in 2001.

The other day I was having a chat with Matthew Hayden in Goa. I asked him, “Why did you play that shot in the first innings at Eden Gardens?” It was in the second session on Day 1, he was batting on 97, and absolutely dominating us. Haydos said he was feeling confident and wanted to reach his century with a big shot — but as luck would have it, he got caught in the deep by Hemang Badani. That was our first little window of opportunity in that historic Test.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Let’s go back to what happened before that. With Anil Kumble out injured, I was selected for the first Test in Mumbai because I had 28 wickets in the Ranji Trophy that season. At Wankhede, even though we lost pretty badly, I got four wickets. If I hadn’t got those wickets — three in quick succession — I might not have played at the Eden.

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Those days, every game was a battle for survival for me and I came to Eden Gardens not very upbeat but focussed. It was a beautiful batting wicket on Day 1 and Australia started from where they had left off in Mumbai — till we got Hayden. Then I had Mark Waugh caught when he tried a cut.What happened post tea changed my life forever. Ricky Ponting, whom I had dismissed in Mumbai too, came in, probably a little short of confidence. I knew I had to attack the stumps. He went back to my delivery that skidded and got trapped in front. Next in was Adam Gilchrist and I wouldn’t give him flight, because he was a good sweeper. This one also skidded in and he was leg-before.And then arrived the magic moment. My aim was to keep it full to Shane Warne so that if he missed, I might get the leg-before. But the delivery was a little too full and he played a full-blooded flick. I will be forever indebted to what Sadagopan Ramesh did at forward short-leg. I always say that my hat-trick belongs as much to me as it does to Ramesh for that catch. He just extended his right hand and plucked it out of thin air.From 252-4, the Aussies were now 252-6 and suddenly, we had hope. But Steve Waugh stood in the way. That Australian team just didn’t give up and Steve scored a brilliant century — his only one in India. He batted superbly with Jason Gillespie to get 445.When we batted, it seemed that it was a different pitch. Wickets kept falling as did the mood in the dressing-room as a series loss loomed. Laxman had scored 59 in the first innings batting at No. 6 and coach John Wright suggested that he should go up in the second.I need not elaborate what happened through Day 4. I can tell you what was happening in the dressing-room. None of us were allowed to change our seats as VVS and Rahul Dravid had that incredible partnership. By the end of day, some of us were joking that it was our will-power and superstition that helped the two champions.The fifth day morning was a little fuzzy, as a junior I was not part of the decision-making process. I could understand that there was a lot of dilemma over declaration. When we took the field before lunch, we knew we had a chance.I got Steve again, caught at legslip by Hemang Badani, which remains my favourite dismissal of the second innings. Sachin Tendulkar got those three wickets with some brilliant bowling, but Jason Gillespie was still standing.Dada had fielders all around the bat and we kept attacking. Jason succumbed and then Glenn McGrath. Many ask me whether McGrath was out? Did it hit him a little too far outside the off-stump?There was no DRS, no Hawk-eye, it was all what seemed with the naked eye. For me that was out the moment it hit his pad as he hadn’t offered a shot, and I am happy that umpire SK Bansal thought on similar lines. Those 13 wickets in that Test match changed my life forever. I still maintain, I was born in Punjab, but made in Kolkata.(Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh spoke to Dwaipayan Datta)