Following Australia’s six-wicket victory over the heavily favored India in the Cricket World Cup final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, Ricky Ponting commended Pat Cummins for his flawless captaincy. Ponting specifically highlighted a bold decision made by Cummins, characterizing it as a “gutsy move” that played a crucial role in shaping the final’s outcome.
Cummins, surprisingly opting to bowl first after winning the toss, proved the decision’s worth as India faced an unusual batting slump, managing only 240 runs. Australia, led by Cummins, successfully chased down the total with six wickets in hand, with Travis Head contributing significantly by scoring 137.
Addressing questions about Cummins’ captaincy, Ponting dismissed any lingering negativity, emphasizing Cummins’ outstanding overall Test record since taking on the captaincy role. Ponting asserted that Cummins’ leadership has been nearly faultless and has only improved throughout the tournament. He particularly lauded Cummins for the courageous decision to bowl first, highlighting the risk involved and acknowledging that such a call, if proven wrong, could have significant repercussions for a relatively young captain. Ponting, a former Australian captain with World Cup triumphs in 2003 and 2007, credited Cummins for his successful and commendable captaincy achievements, including winning the World Cup, the World Test Championship, and retaining the Ashes.
