Ricky Ponting Predicts Jasprit Bumrah, Travis Head to Shine in T20 World Cup

Australia's legendary cricketer Ricky Ponting has predicted India's fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah to emerge as the leading wicket-taker in the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA. Bumrah missed the 2022 edition of the tournament due to a back injury that required surgery. However, he returns to the showpiece event in impressive form, having taken 20 wickets in 13 games for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL), with an astonishing economy rate of 6.48.

Ponting believes Bumrah's exceptional skills with the new ball, his ability to swing and seam the ball, and his impressive economy rate make him a prime candidate for the top wicket-taker award. "He's just come off an outstanding IPL. What he can do with the new ball, he swings the new ball, he has the seam up," Ponting said. "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."

In addition to Bumrah, Ponting also predicts Australia's left-handed opener Travis Head to be a contender for the top run-scorer in the tournament. Head, who was named Player of the Match in last year's ODI World Cup final, scored 567 runs in 15 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024 at a strike rate of 191.55.

"My prediction for the leading run-scorer will be Travis Head," Ponting said. "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."

Ponting acknowledges that Head's IPL form had its ups and downs, but he believes that when Head is in form, he can win games for his team. "His IPL had its ups and downs, but when it's been good, it's been very good. And it has won games of cricket for his team. And it'll be exactly the same for Australia - so, look, he might not be the most consistent on the way through this tournament," Ponting said. "But he'll be right up there, I'm sure, with the leading run scorers. And as I've said, if he spends any amount of time at the wicket for Australia, he'll win more games than ever."

The 2024 Men's T20 World Cup will commence on June 1, with the opening match between co-hosts USA and Canada at Dallas. Australia will begin their campaign against Group B opponents Oman at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 5. India will also play their first game of the competition on the same day, against Ireland at the Nassau County International Stadium in New York.

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