T20 World Cup 2024: Ponting picks IPL top performers Bumrah, Head to dominate the marquee event

Ricky Ponting (Pic: File Pic)

As the T20 World Cup 2024 is inching closer, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has picked the top performers of the IPL 2024 to excel among the players in the mega event. India's lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Australia's explosive batsman Travis Head are the players picked by Ponting.

In the IPL 2024, despite having the worst season for Mumbai Indians, pacer Bumrah bagged 20 wickets in 13 matches. On the other hand, Head accumulated 567 runs in 15 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Despite MI's all-around struggles, Bumrah shone brightly with his supreme control of the ball, maintaining an envious economy rate of a mere 6.48 in a tournament wherein each of the top 10 bowlers went for at least eight runs per over.

My leading wicket-taker for the tournament will be Jasprit Bumrah. I just think an outstanding performer, contributor for a number of years now. He's just come off an outstanding IPL, Ponting was quoted as saying in 'The ICC Review'.

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"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", said Ponting, who coaches Delhi Capitals in the IPL. Even though Head finished fourth in the list of those with most runs in this IPL, it was the manner he got them which impressed the most.

Head's strike rate remained in excess of 200 in the IPL 2024. He also scored 567 runs in 15 with one century and four half-centuries. The left-hander played with an average of 40.50.

My prediction for the leading run-scorer will be Travis Head. 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, said the legendary batter.

Despite having a great run in the IPL 2024, Head registered unwanted figures to his name as he was dismissed for three ducks in the last four matches.

"His IPL had its ups and downs, but when it's been good, it's been very good. It has won games of cricket for his team," said Ponting of his compatriot.

It'll be exactly the same for Australia. He might not be the most consistent on the way through this tournament, but he'll be right up there with the leading run scorers. As I've said, if he spends any amount of time at the wicket for Australia, he'll win more games than ever.

The T20 World Cup 2024 is set to begin from June 2 to 29 in the USA and the West Indies.

(With PTI Inputs)