Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes the Indian Premier League has played a major role in building India’s remarkable T20 strength. The Punjab Kings head coach said the intensity and pressure of IPL matches prepare Indian players for international cricket.
India recently reinforced their dominance in the format after defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in the T20 World Cup 2026 final in Ahmedabad, becoming the first team in history to successfully defend the title. Speaking on The ICC Review, Ponting said India’s white-ball success over the last few years highlights the strength of the current squad.
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“It’s really hard to argue a point against that. If you look at this, not just the T20I team but their white-ball record in ICC events over the last five or six years, it’s quite remarkable,” Ponting said.
“This is a very, very strong Indian white-ball team, not just a T20 team. Back-to-back World Cups, hats off to them,” he added.
Ponting also pointed out that India’s players gain valuable experience through regular high-pressure games in the IPL. The Punjab Kings head coach explained how the scale and competitiveness of the IPL closely match international cricket.
“The one thing that’s probably overlooked with this current team is the amount of experience and the amount of cricket a lot of these guys have played, whether it’s international cricket or even just the IPL,” he said.
“The IPL games are every bit as big as international games anyway, so this Indian team came in well primed with great balance and a great squad,” he added.
INDIA’S CRICKET DOMINANCE
India’s success in white-ball cricket over the last few years has been remarkable.
The men’s team ended a long ICC trophy drought by winning the T20 World Cup in 2024, before continuing their strong run by lifting the Champions Trophy in 2025.
India then created history in 2026 by defending the T20 World Cup, becoming the first team ever to retain the title. The triumph was even more special as it came in front of home fans in Ahmedabad.
The country’s dominance has not been limited to the senior team.
India’s women’s team lifted the ODI World Cup, securing their first ICC title, while both the Under-19 men’s and women’s teams have also won world championships in recent years.
India’s senior men’s side could now achieve an even bigger milestone. If they win the 2027 ODI World Cup, the team would complete a historic white-ball treble after already winning the Champions Trophy and T20 World Cup.
Such a feat would be unprecedented in world cricket and further strengthen India’s reputation as the most dominant white-ball side of the modern era.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
