Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting chats with captain Shreyas Iyer. (AP photo) NEW DELHI: Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has hailed Ricky Ponting for his decisive team selection after Punjab Kings cruised past Gujarat Titans in a tense IPL 2026 clash, saying the legendary Australian had “proved himself right again”.Punjab secured a narrow three-wicket victory, but it was the impact of less-than-expected contributors that caught Ashwin’s attention. Ashwin admitted on his YouTube channel that he initially questioned the decision to include Xavier Bartlett over Azmatullah Omarzai.
Watch
Greenstone Lobo predicts IPL 2026 winner “Before the game, I thought Azmatullah Omarzai should play. Dude, why is Bartlett playing? But the way Bartlett bowled and batted, Ricky Ponting again proved the truth by filling all the Australians’ overseas slots,” Ashwin said.Bartlett may not have made much of an impact with the ball, returning 0/36 in four overs, but he made a crucial cameo with the bat. Coming in at No.9, he eased the pressure in the penultimate over by smashing Prasidh Krishna for a six off his very first ball, shifting the momentum back in Punjab’s favour.Connolly’s composure seals the dealWhile Bartlett provided the late fireworks, it was young Australian Cooper Connolly who anchored the chase with a mature knock of 72 off 44 balls on his IPL debut to earn the Player of the Match award.
Vote
Was the inclusion of Xavier Bartlett over Azmatullah Omarzai a good decision?
Ashwin was particularly impressed with the 22-year-old’s temperament under pressure. “It’s his first game in the IPL. It’s not easy. The lad is from Australia and he’s never played cricket in India. It wasn’t a bouncy wicket, it was a slippery wicket and he adapted and played a very good innings,” he said.“There was a lot of pressure towards the end; even then he held his nerve and finished the chase well. He is only 22 and has done so well in the BBL that he has opened everyone’s eyes,” Ashwin added.Despite a brief collapse induced by Gujarat, Punjab’s young core and tactical decisions by Ponting ensured they started their campaign on a winning note, reinforcing Ashwin’s belief that experience in the dugout continues to make a significant difference.See also: IPL Live Score
