Australian legend and former skipper Ricky Ponting said that Indian skipper Virat Kohli is the best batsman in the world, only because of the 12 month ban imposed on Steve Smith.
Ricky Ponting’s judgement says that Steve Smith is clearly ahead of Kohli in Test cricket but the 29-year-old Indian who is also known as the run machine, is way ahead of the Australian in the limited-overs formats.
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In 66 Tests, Virat Kohli has scored 5554 runs at an average of 53.40. He has also scored 21 hundreds so far in the format. While in 64 Tests, Smith has scored 6199 runs at an average of 61.37 and has smashed 23 centuries.
“Right now, Virat Kohli is the best batsman because Steve Smith is not there. But if Steve Smith was playing now, I’d have him as the number one player in the world,” Ponting said.
“That’s how high in regard I hold Steve Smith, what he’s done the last three or four years with his game and he’s been able to lead an Australian team to so many wins the way he has batted. The Ashes summer last year was just some of the best and purest batting as you’re ever going to see. To do it on the big stage in an Ashes series, and to do it on the first day of an Ashes series when it counts the most, says a lot about him,” he added.
Steve Smith is serving the ban in the aftermath of the ball tampering saga in Australia that turned things around horrendously for the former Australian skipper and batsman Steve Smith. He is accompanied by David Warner who was Vice Captain of the side during the controversial Test match.