Ponting: Kohli is the best because Smith isn't there
According to former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting, Virat Kohli is the best batsman in the world right now. However, the World Cup-winning captain believes Kohli is the best player by default as Steve Smith is currently out of the race serving a 12-month ban for his role in Cape Town ball-tampering incident.
“Right now, he (Virat Kohli) is because Steve Smith is not there,” Ponting was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
“But if Steve Smith was playing now, I’d have him as the number one player in the world.
“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.”
Despite being out of the format for more than three months, Steve Smith still holds the top spot in ICC’s ranking list of Test batsmen. The India skipper, on the other hand, is at the pinnacle of the ODI batsmen’s rankings.
Ponting has been greatly impressed by the way Smith performed the captaincy role while also posing a threat with the bat to England during the Ashes.
“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 said.
Kohli, currently occupying the second position in the Test batsmen’s rankings, has the chance to overtake Smith and top the list in the upcoming Test series against England and during India’s tour of Australia.
