Ishan Kishan provides X-factor that you might need, says Ricky Ponting ahead of WTC Final

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting feels Ishan Kishan can provide an X-factor, which India will need in the World Test Championship final against Australia. With KL Rahul ruled out of WTC Final due to a hip injury, either KS Bharat or Ishan Kishan will keep the wickets for India in the summit clash.

But, Kishan hasn’t yet made his Test debut at the top level, and throwing him in the mix, could be asking too much from the youngster. However, Kishan is known for his aggressive batting and he has the skills to turn the match on its head.

The left-hander scored 454 runs in 15 matches at an average of 30.27 and a strike rate of 142.76, including three fifties in IPL 2023, and played a key role in taking Mumbai Indians to the playoffs.

Kishan has scored 2985 runs in 48 first-class matches at an average of 38.76 and it will be interesting to note if he gets a chance in the final XI against Australia in the WTC final.

“I’d pick Ishan Kishan. If you want to be crowned the world champion, you have to win the game. Hence, why there is a sixth day that has been added to give both teams the best chance of a result. I’d be going with Ishan Kishan because I think he just provides that little bit of X-factor that you might need when pushing for a win in a Test match,” said Ponting on ICC Review.

On the other hand, the former World Cup-winning captain added Hardik Pandya could have been invaluable for India in the one-off Test match against Australia because of his bowling.

Pandya could only take three wickets in 11 innings of IPL 2023. However, the all-rounder last played a Test match back in 2018 and had earlier admitted that his body isn’t ready for the adversities of Test cricket.

“The other really interesting thing that I thought about the other day for India in this game is how valuable someone like Hardik Pandya could be in a one-off Test match,” Ponting added.

“I know he is on record saying that the Test match game is probably a little bit hard on his body. But for a one-off game, he’s been bowling every game through this IPL and he’s bowling quick. He could be that X-factor there just to pick in a one-off game, come in and see what he can do with bat and ball,” said Ponting.

India will take on Australia in the World Test Championship final on June 7 at the Oval.