Former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting picked Jasprit Bumrah as the leading wicket-taker for the T20 World Cup. He also predicted Travis Head as the top run-scorer of the marquee tournament. The anticipation for the T20 World Cup is all-time high as the USA and West Indies are set to co-host the tournament, starting June 2.
Ponting has thrown his weight behind Bumrah to top the charts in the list of top wicket-takers of the tournament. He felt that Bumrah has been coming off a sensational form from IPL 2024 and his ability to exploit with the new ball will be crucial.
“My leading wicket-taker for the tournament will be Jasprit Bumrah,” Ponting told The ICC Review.
“I just think an outstanding performer, contributor for a number of years now. He’s just come off an outstanding IPL.
“What he can do with the new ball, he swings the new ball, he has the seam up. But at the end, his economy rate at the end of the IPL was less than seven runs an over.
“He takes wickets. He does bowl a lot of the hard overs too. When you bowl the hard overs in T20 cricket, it gives you a chance to pick up a lot of wickets along the way. So, I’m going with him.”
Bumrah was among the leading wicket-takers in IPL 2024 with 20 wickets in 13 matches at an economy rate of 6.48. The 30-year-old has been India’s match-winner on the biggest of occasions and will look to replicate his success with the ball during India’s quest to lift an ICC title. India schedule for T20 World Cup
Head as leading run-scorer?
Ponting went with Australia’s blazing opener Head to top the charts in the T20 World Cup. Ponting lauded Head for his fearless batting and his recent record-shattering performance in IPL 2024 for SRH.
“My prediction for the leading run-scorer will be Travis Head,” Ponting said.
“I just think everything he’s done, whether it be red-ball or white-ball in the last couple of years, has been of the highest quality. I think he’s playing fearless cricket at the moment.”
“His IPL had its ups and downs, but when it’s been good, it’s been very good. And it has won games of cricket for his team.”
“And it’ll be exactly the same for Australia. So, look, he might not be the most consistent on the way through this tournament, but he’ll be right up there, I’m sure, with the leading run scorers. And as I’ve said, if he spends any amount of time at the wicket for Australia, he’ll win more games than ever.”
Head was at his absolute best as he finished off as SRH’s highest run-scorer with 567 runs in 15 matches at a strike-rate of 191.55 with 4 fifties and a 39-ball hundred.
