Ricky Ponting: I still get nightmares about Harbhajan Singh
Former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting has admitted that Harbhajan Singh still gives him nightmares calling the off-spinner as his arch-nemesis while playing against India. The Australian great also refused to add fuel to the debate of comparing Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar.
The three-time World Champion with Australia, Ricky Ponting, on Tuesday admitted that Harbhajan Singh still gives him nightmares after being dismissed by the off-spinner 10 times in the 14 Tests he played in India.
"My arch nemesis when I was playing against India was Harbhajan Singh, I still get nightmares about him," he told ANI.
The pair have had heated exchanges whenever India played Australia, and their frustrations boiled down during the Monkeygate incident involving Andrew Symonds during India's Australia tour in 2008.
The spinner was handed a three-match suspension for the incident, which he strongly denied while Ponting stood in support of Symonds during the entire controversy. But in 2013, the pair buried the hatchet when they played the IPL together for Mumbai Indians, a team which they continue to represent during the IPL.
Speaking about his admiration for Virat Kohli, Punter said, “Kohli probably has got age on his side. His ODI career till this stage has been incredible. We also know what he did in last year's (sic) IPL (hitting four hundreds). He is an ultra-skilled and talented player. More importantly, he has got the attitude to want to be the best he can be and wants to lead his country in the best way possible.”
When asked about who he thinks is the best batsmen in today's game, Ponting said, "To tell you the truth, I don't really care (who the best batsmen is at the moment). I just love to see all these guys playing (Kohli, Smith, Williamson and Root). There are a number of current players who are probably on a similar career path," reported TNN.
When quizzed about the raging debate on who is the greatest- Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli, Ponting refused to pick one player, saying that it can only be done once Kohli finishes his career.
"I would say lets wait till Virat finishes his career. Virat is still very young. He could have a bad injury tomorrow and not play another game and then probably there will be no comparison with Sachin having played 200 Tests and Virat 50 or 60 odd. So there will be no comparison," said Ponting.
Ponting was in India promoting his home state of Tasmania as its brand ambassador.