IPL 2017 | Ricky Ponting predicts David Warner to be player of the tournament
Ricky Ponting has made the bold prediction that David Warner will outshine the Indian stars to be named the best player of this year's IPL. Ponting expressed his belief in the Aussie opener stating that the extra responsibility as captain will only help the 'strong character' improve his game.
Warner, who had an below par Test series against India, was exceptional in the IPL last season and has gained a lot of admirers including Ponting, who claimed that the added responsibility of the captaincy would favour the Aussie's game.
"On the back of a slightly disappointing Test series, he's back at a championship-winning team and he's the captain, I think he loves that responsibility," Ponting quoted on cricket.com.au.
"And he's an opening batsman. You'd think the player of the tournament is going to be a spinner or an opening batsman. That's the way the T20 game is right now, so I think Davey will be the player of the tournament."
Ponting, who is the only man to win the IPL, both as a player and coach with the same team, believes that the shortage of runs in the Test series would not have bothered Warner.
"You always like to go into the tournament with a lot of runs under your belt, but to me Davey is the sort of guy that it won't bother too much. He's back into a really comfortable environment and they've brought in a couple of really good inclusions player-wise as well. And I think the fact that it's T20 cricket, against the white ball and on very good pitches that you get in India, I'm sure he will have another good tournament," he said.
Captaining the side, Warner led the Sunrisers Hyderabad to their maiden title last season with great contributions with the bat - ending up as the second highest run getter of the tournament. Ponting's team was at the receiving end of Warner's brilliance last season when the Aussie scored 90 and 48 in the two games against Mumbai Indians.
"He's a strong character and you need to be very strong in your beliefs(to captain in the IPL), You need those Indian players and everyone else to be on the same page and heading in the same direction and I'm pretty sure Davey would have demanded that of his players last year. And if he gets more of an opportunity to captain Australia like he has done, I'm sure he'll do a good job as well.", said Ponting.
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