Australia’s favourite foe: Ponting elaborates on Kohli’s magnetic pull Down Under

ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting has revealed what makes Virat Kohli so special and why the Indian great is so well respected inside Australia.

Ponting spoke with host Sanjana Ganesan on the most recent episode of The ICC Review and the Australian legend spoke glowingly of the former India captain ahead of the upcoming battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under.

“Kohli is a star,” Ponting said.

“He's a superstar, has been a superstar of the game for so long. He's passionate about the way that he plays. He’s passionate about his team. He wants to win and he plays with his heart on his sleeve.”

WATCH: Ponting discusses Kohli's passion for the game on The ICC Review

For Ponting, Kohli’s appeal lies not just in his skill, but in the way he embodies competitive passion on field. He adds that this emotional and aggressive style is appreciated by Australian fans, as it aligns with their values on the sporting field.

Ponting points out that this admiration from Australian fans isn’t given lightly; it’s earned.

“That's what superstar players generate and create all around the world. And there's lots of different degrees of that,” he explains.

Kohli has an impeccable Test record in Australian conditions, racking up 1352 runs across 25 innings at an impressive average of 54.08 with six hundreds to his name. He captained his side to a historic win in 2018/19, when India became the first Asian side to win a Test series in Australia.

“You talk about the media here and the following that Virat has in Australia. That’s on the back of having been here and played well in the past,” said Ponting.

While fans and media amplify the intensity, Ponting acknowledges that the pressures on international cricket stars vary across different cultures and countries.

Comparing Kohli’s reception in Australia to Steve Smith’s experience in England, Ponting says: “You think about other players like when Steve Smith goes to the UK (United Kingdom) and gets booed when he walks onto the ground. I mean, that’s all part of, I guess, the theatre that comes with international sports.”

Ponting also reflects on Kohli’s leadership qualities and how he shoulders the burden for his team, regardless of the situation.

“I had a look at what Ravi (Shastri) had to say about being the man that wanted to take all the bullets in Australia last time,” Ponting recalls, referencing Kohli’s previous tours to Australia. “And that’s what you expect from your leaders and your star players.”

“When you travel abroad, and you know that the country’s against you, and you know the home media’s against you, you need to have your senior players stand up and be the protectors, if you like, of the younger players in that side,” Ponting added.

This stature and the ability to mentor fellow players is crucial in a game where emotional resilience can be as important as physical demands and skill.

Kohli won’t be alone in this leadership role though and Ponting highlighted how important it will be for other senior players like Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah to set the tone for India in Australia.

“So I’ve got no doubt that’s the way Virat will approach this tour, Rohit Sharma will approach this tour, Bumrah will approach this tour. The senior guys really need to stand up and lead the way,” Ponting said.

Speaking further on the intimidation and the banter that comes along with the expected intense nature of the Test series, Ponting expects the matches to be played on the edge.

“I don't know if spice is the right word, but I expect the game to be played sort of almost on the edge, if you like, with two of the best teams in the world not wanting to give an inch to each other,” Ponting added.

“Not wanting to give an inch to the opposition, not wanting to lose a single contest through the course of those whole five Test matches.

“And I think that's the beauty about these great rivalries we have in world sport. I've spoken the last couple of days about Australia-India in a Test match now, it's as big a rivalry as there is in world sport, not just cricket.”

The Hall of Famer concluded by comparing the rivalry between Australia and India to that of the Ashes, stating that these are the battles in world cricket that he looks forward to most.

“Australia-England, with the history of the Ashes, but Australia-India is not far behind that and it's built up over a long period of time,” Ponting said.

“I think we all look forward to these sort of battles. As a past player, as a commentator, I want to see these two teams go out there and play hard and fair and then see who is left standing at the end of the next five games.”