Australia cricket legend Ricky Ponting has predicted India’s fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah to be the leading wicket-taker in the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA. Bumrah had missed the 2022 edition of the tournament in Australia due to a back injury, which later needed surgery. Bumrah comes into the showpiece event after taking 20 wickets in 13 games for Mumbai Indians, with an astonishing economy rate of 6.48, finishing third in the Purple Cap race.

“My leading wicket-taker for the tournament will be Jasprit Bumrah. I just think an outstanding performer, contributor for a number of years now. He’s just come off an outstanding IPL. What he can do with the new ball, he swings the new ball, he has the seam up.

“His economy rate at the end of the IPL was less than seven runs an over. He takes wickets. He does bowl a lot of the hard overs too. When you bowl the hard overs in T20 cricket, it gives you a chance to pick up a lot of wickets along the way. So, I’m going with him,” Ponting told The ICC Review show.

He also believes Australia’s left-handed opener Travis Head could be the top run-scorer in the upcoming tournament. Head, the Player of the Match in last year’s ODI World Cup final, scored 567 runs in 15 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024 at a strike-rate of 191.55, though he struggled for runs at the back end of the tournament.

“My prediction for the leading run-scorer will be Travis Head. I just think everything he’s done, whether it be red-ball or white-ball in the last couple of years, has been of the highest quality. I think he’s playing fearless cricket at the moment.

“His IPL had its ups and downs, but when it’s been good, it’s been very good. And it has won games of cricket for his team. And it’ll be exactly the same for Australia – so, look, he might not be the most consistent on the way through this tournament.

“But he’ll be right up there, I’m sure, with the leading run scorers. And as I’ve said, if he spends any amount of time at the wicket for Australia, he’ll win more games than ever,” added Ponting.

The 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup will begin on June 1, with the opening match between co-hosts USA and Canada at Dallas. Australia will open their campaign against Group B opponents Oman at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 5. India also play their first game of the competition on the same day, against Ireland at the Nassau County International Stadium in New York.

Former Australia World Cup-winning captain Ricky Ponting predicted that Baggy Greens star opener Travis Head will be the highest run-scorer of the upcoming T20 World Cup. Ahead of the marquee event starting on June 1 in the USA and the West Indies, Travis Head has been enjoying a purple patch with the bat. Ponting has backed Head to emerge as the top run-getter in the highly anticipated tournament. He believes that the southpaw’s performance over the past couple of years in all formats of cricket has been of the highest quality.

“My prediction for the leading run-scorer will be Travis Head. I just think everything he’s done, whether it be red-ball or white-ball in the last couple of years, has been of the highest quality. I think he’s playing fearless cricket at the moment,” Ponting said in the ICC Review Podcast.

In last year’s ODI World Cup, Australia showed faith in him by including Head in the squad despite carrying an injury. Head was added to the playing XI when he regained fitness and repaid the management’s faith by scoring a ton in his comeback match. He also won the Player of the Match award in the semi-final and the final of the tournament.

In the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL), Head featured for Sunrisers Hyderabad and emerged as the highest run-scorer for the franchise.

Overall, he was the fourth-highest run-scorer in the tournament with a whopping tally of 567 runs in 15 matches scoring at an average of 40.50 and a mouth-watering tally of 191.55. En route to the final, SRH were buttressed by Head’s explosive start in the opening slot.

He struggled to put up runs at the backend of the tournament but overall showed his destructive potential in the opening front of the shortest format of the game. In the final three games, he registered two ducks and a 34-run knock.

Despite his sub-par performance towards the end of the cash-rich league, Ponting expects fireworks from Head’s bat in the World Cup.

“His IPL had its ups and downs, but when it’s been good, it’s been very good. And it has won games of cricket for his team,” Ponting noted.

“And it’ll be exactly the same for Australia. So, look, he might not be the most consistent on the way through this tournament, but he’ll be right up there, I’m sure, with the leading run scorers. And as I’ve said, if he spends any amount of time at the wicket for Australia, he’ll win more games than ever,” Ponting added.

Australia are placed in Group B alongside England, Namibia, Oman and Scotland. They will begin their campaign against Oman on June 6 at the Kensington Oval, Barbados.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Friday rejected claims that the Board has approached any former Australian cricketer to be India’s next head coach and hinted that Rahul Dravid’s successor could be an Indian by saying that he should have a “deep understanding” of the game’s structure in the country. While Dravid has reportedly told the board that he is not interested in a third stint, former Australian players like Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer have claimed that they have turned down approaches for the high-profile position.

“Neither I nor the BCCI have approached any former Australian cricketer with a coaching offer. The reports circulating in certain media sections are completely incorrect,” Shah said in a statement.

Both Ponting and Langer are involved in the Indian Premier League as the head coaches of Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants respectively. World Cup-winning former batting star Gautam Gambhir, who is currently mentoring Kolkata Knight Riders, is speculated to be among the top contenders for the post right now.

“Finding the right coach for our national team is a meticulous and thorough process. We are focused on identifying individuals who possess a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure and have risen through the ranks,” Shah said.

23rd May – Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer declined the BCCI’s offer to Head Coach team India.

24th May – Jay Shah confirms the BCCI did not contact any Australian for the Head Coach post. pic.twitter.com/0zDYluDLN1

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 24, 2024

The BCCI secretary also said that having in-depth knowledge of Indian domestic cricket will be one of the important criteria for appointing the next coach. He said the understanding would be crucial to “truly elevate Team India to the next level.” Ponting had claimed on Thursday that he was approached to take over the role but said that he declined as it did not fit with his “lifestyle” right now.

Ponting told ICC review, “I’ve seen a lot of reports about it. Normally these things pop up on social media before you even know about them, but there were a few little one-on-one conversations during the IPL, just to get a level of interest from me as to whether I would do it.” “I’d love to be a senior coach of a national team, but with the other things that I have in my life and wanting to have a bit of time at home…everyone knows if you take a job working with the Indian team you can’t be involved in an IPL team, so it would take that out of it as well,” he said.

Taking up the job of coaching India also implies spending 10-11 months away from home but Ponting said his family seemed ready for it.

“…I had a whisper to my son about it, and I said, ‘Dad’s been offered the Indian coaching job’ and he said, ‘Just take it, dad, we would love to move over there for the next couple of years'” he said.

“That’s how much they love being over there and the culture of cricket in India, but right now it probably doesn’t exactly fit into my lifestyle,” Ponting said.

Meanwhile, Langer, who had remained noncommittal about applying for India coaching role after IPL clash between LSG and Mumbai Indians, said he would “never say never” but at the same time revealed receiving crucial advice from Lucknow skipper KL Rahul.

Langer told BBS Stumped Podcast, ”It would be an amazing job. I also know that it’s an all-encompassing role, and having done it for four years with the Australian team, honestly, it’s exhausting. And that’s the Australian job.” “You never say never. And the pressure of doing it in India… I was talking to KL Rahul and he said, ‘You know, if you think there’s pressure and politics in an IPL team, multiply that by a thousand, (that is) coaching India. That was a good bit of advice, I guess,” Langer said.

“It would be an awesome job, but not for me at the moment,” he added.

Former England and current Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach Andy Flower had also ruled himself out of the race saying he is happy being involved in franchise cricket for now.

Chennai Super Kings chief executive Kasi Viswanathan has done the same for Stephen Fleming claiming the former New Zealand captain won’t be keen on taking a job which requires him to work ‘nine-ten months a year’.

Shah described the position of India’s head coach as the most prestigious job in international cricket, saying it demands high level of professionalism given the kind of support the national side enjoys.

“When we talk about international cricket, no role is more prestigious than that of the Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. Team India commands the largest fan base globally, enjoying support that is truly unrivalled,” he said.

“Our rich history, passion for the game make this one of the most lucrative jobs in the world. The role demands a high level of professionalism as one gets to nurture some of the best cricketers in the world and an assembly line of talented cricketers to follow.

“Catering to the aspirations of a billion fans is a huge honour and the BCCI will pick the right candidate, capable of propelling Indian cricket forward,” Shah added.

File photo of Justin Langer© AFP

Australia great Ricky Ponting has revealed that he was approached for the soon-to-be-vacant India head coach position but he has declined the offer as it doesn’t fit into his “lifestyle” right now. Ponting, who recently completed seven seasons as the head coach of Delhi Capitals IPL franchise, has been Australia’s interim T20 coach in the past. He did not say whether the feelers for India position came from the BCCI. “…there were a few little one-on-one conversations during the IPL, just to get a level of interest from me as to whether I would do it,” Ponting told the ICC.

“I’d love to be a senior coach of a national team, but with the other things that I have in my life and wanting to have a bit of time at home…everyone knows if you take a job working with the Indian team, you can’t be involved in an IPL team, so it would take that out of it as well.

“Also, a national head coach is a 10 or 11-month of the year job, and as much as I’d like to do it, it just doesn’t fit into my lifestyle right now and the things that I really enjoy doing,” he added.

Ponting said he discussed the offer with his son and he seemed game for a move to India.

“My family and my kids have spent the last five weeks over at the IPL with me and they come over every year and I had a whisper to my son about it,” he recalled.

“I said, ‘Dad’s been offered the Indian coaching job’ and he said, ‘Just take it dad, we would love to move over there for the next couple of years’,” Ponting quipped.

“That’s how much they love being over there and the culture of cricket in India, but right now it probably doesn’t exactly fit into my lifestyle,” he added.

Some other high-profile names such as Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming, Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer and Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir have also been talked about as potential candidates for the position that Rahul Dravid will vacate after India’s T20 World Cup campaign next month.

The BCCI has set May 27 as the last date for submitting applications.

“I’ve seen a few other names thrown about as well. Justin Langer’s name got thrown in yesterday, Stephen Fleming’s name has been thrown about a little bit,” Ponting noted.

“Gautam Gambhir’s name has been thrown around a little bit the last couple of days as well. But I think it’d be unlikely for me just on the reasons that I’ve given there.”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking for a new head coach for the men’s cricket team as Rahul Dravid’s stint will come to an end after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024, and if he wishes to continue, he would have to re-apply for the position, which the veteran has been reportedly denying so far. The multi-format coaching role requires the coach to stay with the team for approximately ten months with the busy men’s team calendar. IANS understands that Dravid is ready to step down from the position regardless of the fact whether it ends with the T20 World Cup title or not and wishes to spend time with family.

Even though South Africa, Pakistan and England divide their coaching responsibilities between red-ball and white-ball cricket, the BCCI is still unwilling to adopt a similar strategy because India do not have two distinct player groups for two formats. The BCCI also approached ex-Indian players for the position but they will have to fill the application form to stay alive in the race.

Early speculation said that VVS Laxman would succeed Dravid in the role which he previously filled on a part-time basis in the latter’s absence last year. However, sources confirmed that Laxman is not in the mood to apply and will continue with the India ‘A’ team.

Former Australian cricketer and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) head coach Justin Langer is also in the fray for the head coach position along with other star veterans including Stephen Fleming, Gautam Gambhir and Ashish Nehra. BCCI has also been meeting with IPL coaches and mentors in the hunt for a head coach. Langer ‘is curious’ and interested in coaching the Indian team but according to sources, Ponting had a meeting with the BCCI secretary Jay Shah and chief selector Ajit Agarkar in Delhi in the first week of the month regarding the coaching position. Ponting is currently associated with IPL franchise Delhi Capitals as head coach.

BCCI can also look up to Gambhir, who returned back to his old franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after serving two years at Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and has played a key role in steering the side to back-to-back playoff finishes. Gujarat Titans head coach Nehra has also shown interest in guiding the Indian team in the past.

“Why not, if I would be given a chance to coach the Indian team why won’t I. I believe the team not only revolves around the captain it’s the management that plays the key role,” Nehra had said in an event back in 2021. Also, Nehra has proved his managing mettle with GT, winning the IPL in their debut season and a runner-up finish in the next edition.

Since Dravid is ‘not interested’ in extending his role and Laxman wants to stick with the ‘A’ team it is Ponting who is the front-runner in the race but the extensive ten months working load in away conditions will be the key point in his decision. Also, Ponting was appointed head coach of Washington Freedom ahead of the second season of Major League Cricket in the United States, which is set to start form July 6.

Soon after the end of T20 WC, India will be travelling to Zimbabwe for a five-match T20I series starting from July 15. So, with MLC ending on June 29, and Ponting serving Washington Freedom in the USA, it will be a very difficult job for the BCCI and the former Australian skipper to come to the conclusion.

BCCI can also look for other options such as Stephen Fleming, who is the longest-serving coach in IPL for Chennai Super Kings. Dravid, who was given a six-month extension post the 50-over World Cup in October-November, has his contract expiring after the T20 World Cup next month. The former India captain has the option of re-applying for the post.

The Indian board on Monday invited applications for the role with a deadline of May 27.

The position of the Indian team’s head coach is up for grabs with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in search of a top candidate to replace current chief Rahul Dravid. With his current term ending after June, Dravid is unwilling to continue as the head coach. Dravid was handpicked as head coach in 2021 by the then BCCI President Sourav Ganguly. His initial term came to an end after the ODI World Cup last year, but the board and the former Indian captain agreed to extend the contract till June 2024.

Former India batter VVS Laxman, who succeeded Dravid as the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), is one of the possible options. However, there is no indication that Laxman will apply for the job.

Jay Shah had also revealed that the BCCI is also looking at overseas candidates to replace Dravid, but it will only be considered depending on the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC)’s recommendations.

“If the CAC selects a foreign coach, I can’t interfere. A few interviews for the selector’s post have already happened. We will announce it soon,” Shah had said during a media interaction last week.

Having said that, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting and ex-New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming have also been approached by the BCCI for the role of the head coach.

However, according to a report in RevSportz, Ponting and Fleming are both reluctant to take the job.

“Two experienced foreign coaches, Chennai Super Kings’ Stephen Fleming and Delhi Capitals’ Ricky Ponting, have been informally sounded out by the BCCI. But the response from their side hasn’t been very positive. Both have been plying their trade in the IPL for a long time. They know Indian cricket inside-out. But the round the year job might prove to be a deterrent,” the report suggested.

For the record, Ponting had also been approached by the BCCI in 2021 after Ravi Shastri‘s tenure came to an end.

Ponting’s former Australia teammate Justin Langer‘s name has also appeared of late.

The deadline for applying for the post is May 27, with Dravid’s replacement will remain in charge until the 2027 World Cup.

File photo of Ishant Sharma.© AFP