Ponting urges India to start left-arm quick in England Tests

On the latest episode of The ICC Review, Ponting backed the 26-year-old’s character, work ethic, and technical strengths that he felt will make Arshdeep a valuable asset for India on the crucial tour starting next month.

“I've had a good chance to get to know him really well. He's a great character to have around the team,” Ponting said of Arshdeep, who he coaches in the Indian Premier League at the Punjab Kings.

“He's a fun-loving guy. He's very laid-back around the group, which is great. Which is what we all like.

“As soon as the squad was announced the other day, the Test squad, the first thing I did in our team meeting was to make sure that I acknowledged that Arshdeep had been picked in front of everybody and just congratulated him in front of everybody.

“I think it's well deserved. I think he’ll bowl well in England as well.”

Having been a mainstay in India’s T20I setup with 99 wickets across just 63 games, the left-arm seamer’s maiden Test call-up also comes on the back of his exploits in red-ball domestic cricket as well, with 66 wickets coming across 21 first-class matches.

“I would actually have him in their Test team at the start. He's very skillful,” Ponting noted.

“I think the Dukes ball will help him in the UK as well. And I just think to have that point of difference, having a left-armer in your team, I think will be something that, if India don't do it then it'll be a bit of a surprise to me.”

Ponting further iterated that the seamer’s previous county experience will come in handy for India. During his County Championship spell with Kent last year, Arshdeep picked up 13 wickets in five Division 1 games, with his best bowling figures being 3/58.

“He's played county cricket and he knows the conditions there as well,” Ponting noted.

“Arshdeep is close to six-foot-four, so he's going to get decent bounce...as we know in England the ball still swings when it is 30, 40 or 50 overs old.

“To have someone that's got that swing bowling ability and a left-armer I think is something that the Indian team should definitely look out for on that tour.”

Arshdeep has been in sizzling form during the IPL this season, taking 18 wickets in the league phase to guide Ponting and Punjab to the top of the table.

Punjab face off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1 of the tournament at Mullanpur on Thursday with a spot in the title decider awaiting the winner.

This is their first time in the playoffs since 2014, in what is Ponting’s first season as their coach. He said that his vision for change at the franchise came with three principles that he integrated across the franchise.

“The three keywords that I brought this year were being different, being daring and dynamic,” Ponting said.

“That's not just the playing group, that's through the whole organisation. The inclusion thing for me is always a big one.

“We've got not just about 25 players here. We've got over 100 people that are hopefully all on the same journey together. We're heading in the same direction and me making them feel a part of the journey is a bit of the reason why we're all here.”

As the playoffs loom, Ponting remains focused but upbeat, aware that the job is not yet done but confident in the culture and leadership that have brought them this far.

“It's just the end of the qualifying rounds and the big stuff is yet to come, but so far cricket's been very, very good. It's been a fun time to be around the team. And I'm looking forward to what the next few weeks brings.”