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When Ponting, who is inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, was asked whether the current Indian team is the strongest team in the history of T20 international cricket, he said in ‘The ICC Review’, ‘It is very difficult to deny this.
Former Australian captain calls Indian T20 team the most dangerous team in history
New Delhi. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said after India’s victory in the recently concluded T20 World Cup that this team is the strongest T20 International team so far. He said that the depth, experience and consistent good performance of the team makes India’s record in white ball cricket excellent. India won the third ICC Men’s T20 World Cup by defeating New Zealand by 96 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and became the first team to win the title for the second consecutive time.
India has maintained its dominance in limited overs cricket. In the four major ICC tournaments held since the end of 2023, India has lost only two matches, once against Australia in the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup and second against South Africa in the Super Eight of the 2026 T20 World Cup. When Ponting, who is inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, was asked whether the current Indian team is the strongest team in the history of T20 international cricket, he said in ‘The ICC Review’, ‘It is very difficult to deny this.
Salute to Team India
Not just T20, India’s record in white ball cricket in ICC tournaments in the last five-six years has been excellent. He said, ‘Even before the start of this tournament, many people had recognized how much depth, strength and experience the current Indian team has.’ The former Australia captain said, ‘Not only the T20 team, India’s white ball team is very strong. Hats off to him for winning two consecutive World Cups.
IPL’s role is important
Ponting, who has won the World Cup thrice, said that the experience of playing pressure matches both at the international level and in the IPL has been important in strengthening the team. Punjab Kings coach Ponting said, ‘One thing that probably gets less attention about this team is the experience of the players and how much cricket they have played, whether international or IPL.’ He said, ‘IPL matches are as big as international matches, so the Indian team entered the field with excellent balance and excellent preparation.
The team beat everyone after the blow
India had lost to South Africa by 76 runs in the Super Eights and Ponting feels the setback helped the team regroup. He said, ‘When you win 12 consecutive matches, sometimes a bad day comes. I’m glad it arrived quickly. Perhaps India needed such a shock. After this defeat, India batted brilliantly and scored more than 250 runs in three of the remaining four matches, which also included the semi-finals and final.