‘Fokat ka Gyaan dena chod de’ - Fans slam Ricky Ponting for saying Hardik Pandya ‘could be that X-factor’ for India against Australia in Test Championship Final

The stage is getting ready at the Oval, England for the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) between India and Australia. Both teams are preparing hard as a mouth-watering clash awaits them and their respective fans. However, ahead of this clash, the former Aussie skipper, Ricky Ponting claimed that Hardik Pandya could be that X-factor for India in this clash.

Advertisment

Hardik Pandya last played in the longest format of the game in 2018 against England at Southampton. After that, due to injuries, he missed several cricketing actions and now, in the last two years, he finally managed to play cricket continuously in both the One Day and 20-20 format. But, hearing such a comment from Ponting, fans were not happy and slammed him brutally on social media.

“He could be that X-factor there just to pick in a one-off game” - Ricky Ponting on Hardik Pandya

While speaking on the review show of the Governing Body of Cricket, Ponting said: “The other really interesting thing that I thought about the other day for India in this game is how valuable someone like Hardik Pandya could be in a one-off Test match. I know he is on record saying that the Test match game is probably a little bit hard on his body. But for a one-off game... he's been bowling every game through this IPL and he's bowling quick. He could be that X-factor there just to pick in a one-off game, come in and see what he can do with bat and ball. He could be the difference between the two teams.”

Advertisment

After the recent home T20I series win against the Kiwis, Pandya shared an update on his comeback to the red-ball format. While speaking to reporters, Pandya said: "I will come (back) when I feel (it's) the right time to play Test-match cricket. Right now, I'm going to focus on white-ball cricket, which is important, and if time is right and body is fine, I'll give (the long format) a try." Till now, this star Team India all-rounder has played 11 Tests while scoring 532 runs and taking 17 wickets.

Here is how fans have reacted:

Ye overrated aadmi injured ho jayega kya krenge isko le jaa ke

— ASHISH PATHAK (@AshishPathak120) May 31, 2023

Itna kuch soch lete toh sare ICC trophy na jeet lete hum? 😂

— Aam Admi (@sidhutripathy) May 30, 2023

Fokat ka gyaan dena chhod de gore log 🙏🙏🙏

— PAVANKUMAR (@PAVANKU77378707) May 30, 2023

Punter Bhaiya keh rahe hain to sahi hi keh rahe honge.

— NB (@NB_darkknight) May 30, 2023

Iska attitude km hoga tb na

— ꪀⅈ𝕣ꪑꪖꪶ 𝕣ꪖ𝕛 ➐ (@nirmal9_) May 31, 2023

Ponting is giving all the advice to team India which will favour Aussies 😂😂

— Sankaran Baskar (@SankaranBaskar) May 31, 2023

Of course he'll be x factor for Aussies.

— 👑KOHLI (@ViratSh31838365) May 30, 2023

Bhai ko Australia jeetna isliye yesa bol raha hai

— MAHARATHI⚔️ (@maharathi07) May 31, 2023

Ye buddha India k beech me boht bolta hae

— Hridyansh rai (@RaiHridyansh) May 30, 2023