Virat Kohli and Steve Smith have inexorably been compared to each other with regards to who is the better batsman. Both have been incredible and consistent for their respective teams in the past. Many rate them as the two best players in the world at present.
Indian captain averages more than 50 in all the formats and is currently the eighth leading run-scorers (21,739) of all time. Amongst current active players, Kohli tops the list.
Smith, on the other hand, averages 62.84 – the second-highest amongst current active players and third overall after the great Sir Don Bradman (99.94) and Smith’s teammate Marnus Labuschagne (63.43).
But who is the best amongst these two modern great players? Well, the former Australian skipper has the answer.
Ponting had an interaction with his fans on Twitter, where he received numerous questions. The 45-year-old tried to answer as many as possible.
One user dropped the biggest query in modern cricket, yes it was regarding the best batsman at present.
“Who is the most complete batsman?” asked a Twitter user.
Most complete Batsman today?
— dhaval (@tipsysultan) January 27, 2020
Ponting responded to the tweet and said it’s not easy to choose between the two batsmen.
“Hard to separate Virat Kohli and Steve Smith,” tweeted Ponting.
Hard to separate Virat Kohli and Steve Smith https://t.co/JrXLBdTkhc
— Ricky Ponting AO (@RickyPonting) January 27, 2020
The Launceston-born also revealed how he got his nickname ‘Punter’ after he was asked about it by a Twitter user.
“Who called you ‘Punter’ for the first time?” a user tweeted.
https://twitter.com/Mradul_vkdk09/status/1221633086166683649
Ponting disclosed that it was his teammate Shane Warne who gave him the nickname ‘Punter.’
“We were getting paid $40 a month when we were living at the cricket academy in 1990. I used to go to the TAB to have a bet on the dogs, and @ShaneWarne gave me the nickname,” tweeted Ponting.
We were getting paid $40 a month when we were living at the cricket academy in 1990. I used to go to the TAB to have a bet on the dogs and @ShaneWarne gave me the nickname https://t.co/uY61XKaEAx
— Ricky Ponting AO (@RickyPonting) January 27, 2020
