Ponting backs Pant to play 'three or four World Cups before his career is over'

Ponting, who has been head coach of the Delhi-based franchise in the Indian Premier League since 2018, has seen enough in Pant to believe that the 21-year-old probably warranted a place, not only in the 15-man squad, but also the XI. India's selectors, however, favoured the experience of Dinesh Karthik.

According to Ponting, although Pant was naturally a little dejected over his exclusion, he was taking it well. The former Australia captain, who led his team to World Cup titles in 2003 and 2007, spoke highly of the wicket-keeper batsman.

"The thing that he has to remember, and we all have to remember, [is that] he's still very, very young. He's got an opportunity to play, potentially, in another three or four World Cups during the course of his career," Ponting said on Wednesday, 17 April.

"I was surprised when he was left out of the squad. I thought he'll be in and I thought he'll actually play in the starting eleven. I thought that someone like him batting at No. 4 or 5 in their side would have just been that sort of player who could have had that X-factor about him that could have been the difference between India and some other teams in the World Cup.

"One thing that we know about Indian cricket is that there is a lot of depth around, particularly around the batting side. Unfortunately, this time, Rishabh is the one that has missed out, but as I said, I think knowing what he's like and the talent he's got, I'll be surprised if he doesn't play at least three World Cups before his career is over."

Teams are allowed to make changes to the squad until 23 May, and there's still a lot of IPL matches left this season for Pant to try and force a late change in India's World Cup party. But Ponting felt he now 'can't get into that squad' and should solely focus on winning games for Delhi.

"I think it's really important now that he focuses on the little things that's going to make him a good player for us. There's nothing he can do now, obviously. Doesn't matter how many runs he scores from hereon until the World Cup starts, he can't get into that squad.

"What he can only focus on now is win games for the Delhi Capitals. I think there's enough motivation there for him with that, he's talked a lot about wanting to be a successful part of a successful Delhi team. We've got that opportunity now over the next month."