Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin heaped praise on Ricky Ponting for a decisive team selection call after Punjab Kings edged past Gujarat Titans in a tense IPL 2026 clash, stating that the legendary Australian “once again proved right.”Punjab secured a narrow three-wicket win, but it was the impact of lesser-expected contributors that caught Ashwin’s attention. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin admitted he had initially questioned the decision to include Xavier Bartlett over Azmatullah Omarzai.“I thought before the start of the game that Azmatullah Omarzai should play. Dude, why is Bartlett playing? But the way Bartlett bowled and batted, Ricky Ponting once again proved right by filling all the overseas slots with Australians,” Ashwin said.Bartlett may not have made a major impact with the ball, returning 0/36 in four overs, but he played a crucial cameo with the bat. Coming in at No. 9, he released pressure in the penultimate over by smashing Prasidh Krishna for a six off his very first ball, shifting momentum back in Punjab’s favour.Connolly’s composure seals the dealWhile Bartlett provided 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, earning the Player of the Match award.Ashwin was particularly impressed with the 22-year-old’s temperament under pressure. “This is his first game in the IPL. It isn’t easy. The guy comes from Australia and has never played cricket in India. It wasn’t a bouncy-type wicket; it was a skiddy wicket and he adapted and played a very good innings,” he said.“There was a lot of pressure near the end; even then, he held his nerve and finished the chase well. He is only 22 years old and he performed so well in the BBL that he opened everyone’s eyes,” Ashwin added.Despite a brief collapse triggered by Gujarat, Punjab’s young core and Ponting’s tactical decisions ensured they began their campaign on a winning note, reinforcing Ashwin’s belief that experience in the dugout continues to make a telling difference.
