Last Updated on 4 months by Charbel Coorey

Ricky Ponting was at his very best in commentary once again, this time predicting how Virat Kohli could be dismissed against the USA.

He provided insight into how teams have been bowling to India’s star batsman in this World Cup. The wider line has worked a treat.

“In this tournament so far, teams are looking to bowl a lot wider to Virat than ever before, (he was) caught at third man in the first game [against Ireland],” said Ponting on Amazon Prime’s coverage.

Kohli was then dismissed first ball, nicking behind off Saurabh Netravalkar’s left-arm seam. The opener played the ball quite a fair way away from his body, with the former Australian captain stating he may have been expecting the ball to come back in.

Dinesh Karthik comments on Ricky Ponting after Virat Kohli dismissal

“We were just talking about the line,” said Ponting after Kohli was dismissed. “The bowlers just look to bowl to him slightly wider outside the off-stump, trying to making him find it and feel for the ball with his hands.”

“All the homework they (India) would’ve done would be about Netravalkar swinging the ball back into the right-hander. This one didn’t, it was pushed across, what a breakthrough.”

During the commentary, Dinesh Karthik commented on Ponting’s ability to predict dismissals. The former Australian captain has done so on many occasions, particularly when working for Channel 7 during Australia’s home seasons.

“You’ve done it one too many times now, it must feel really good as a commentator when you speak about something and that exactly happens,” Karthik laughed.

“Not that you wanted Virat to get out but about how they attack outside off stump.”

Netravalkar soon dismissed Rohit Sharma to continue his dream tournament. India were reduced to 10/2 in pursuit of USA’s respectable 110/8 on a tricky New York pitch, with the co-hosts dreaming of another major upset after prevailing over Pakistan last week.

But, it wasn’t to be as Suryakumar Yadav (50* off 49 balls) and Shivam Dube (31* off 35 balls) led India to safety with seven wickets and 10 balls to spare.

With the win, India sealed their qualification to the Super Eights. However, they will want Kohli to find form, with the opener scoring just 1, 4 and 0 in his first three games after winning the Orange Cap in the recent IPL.

India’s final group game will be against Canada in Lauderhill, which has copped a deluge of rain in recent times. The weather is likely to be kind to the USA team, who only need a washout against Ireland to qualify.

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