Champions Trophy: Ricky Ponting Calls Virat Kohli ‘The Best ODI Player’ Following Historic Century Against Pakistan

February 25, 2025: Former Australian captain and multi-time World Cup-winning legend, Ricky Ponting, has lauded Virat Kohli’s exceptional performance in India’s victory against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy. Kohli’s unbeaten century in the high-stakes game was a standout moment, securing India’s win and seeing the star India batter achieve significant milestones. This century also marked Kohli’s first ton in the prestigious tournament.

In an interview on The ICC Review, Ponting praised Kohli for his ability to deliver under pressure and in crucial moments. The match was a perfect example, with Kohli scoring an impressive 100 off 111 balls, which not only contributed to India’s victory but also saw him surpass 14,000 ODI runs. His remarkable consistency has seen him climb to third on the list of all-time run-getters in international cricket, surpassing former Australia captain Ricky Ponting.

Ponting highlighted Kohli’s ability to rise to the occasion in the most important games, especially when India faced Pakistan. “Big games equal big names,” Ponting said, adding that it is no surprise Kohli has excelled in such high-profile contests. He drew comparisons between Kohli’s crucial knock against Pakistan in the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and his performance in the Champions Trophy, noting how Kohli delivered again when the stakes were highest.

The match saw Pakistan post 241 runs in 49.4 overs, a total that seemed achievable but ultimately fell short against India’s batting strength. While Pakistan had several players, including Saud Shakeel (62), Mohammad Rizwan (46), and Khushdil Shah (38), who got starts, they failed to convert them into significant scores. Ponting noted that Kohli’s century was the difference-maker, contrasting it with Pakistan’s failure to produce big individual scores.

With Pakistan unable to build partnerships, India, led by Kohli, cruised past the target. Despite early wickets falling, Kohli held the innings together with composure, partnering with Shreyas Iyer (56) to guide India to victory. Ponting praised Kohli’s consistent ability to perform under pressure, acknowledging his greatness in the 50-over format.

As Kohli surpassed 14,000 runs in ODIs, Ponting expressed admiration for the Indian cricketer, stating that he had never seen a better 50-over player. Kohli now trails only Kumar Sangakkara and Sachin Tendulkar in the all-time run-scorer list. Ponting also reflected on Kohli’s longevity, fitness, and hunger to continue performing at the highest level.

Looking ahead, Kohli is just 149 runs behind Sangakkara and over 4,000 runs behind Tendulkar. While Ponting acknowledged Tendulkar’s remarkable career, he refused to count Kohli out of the race for the top spot, highlighting his ongoing commitment and hunger for success.

In contrast, Ponting questioned Pakistan’s potential, particularly the performances of key players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. He suggested that these players needed to step up in order to give Pakistan a chance of progressing to the semi-finals, something they failed to do following back-to-back losses in the tournament.