"Your Name Is Forged...": On Virat Kohli's Hundred vs Pakistan, Ricky Ponting's Defining Verdict

Former Australian captain and multi-time World Cup-winning icon hailed the star India batter Virat Kohli's century against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy, calling him the "best ODI player" he has ever seen. The game was headlined by Virat Kohli's carefully crafted unbeaten century, which not only secured India's win but also saw him achieve remarkable individual milestones of completing 14,000 ODI runs and going past Ponting to become the third-highest run-getter in international cricket. This was also Virat's first ton in the ICC Champions Trophy.

Speaking on The ICC Review, Ponting lauded Kohli's ability to produce clutch knocks in crucial moments, and for breaking a plethora of records on his way.

"I have always said big games equal big names. You need your big names to stand up in those big moments, and no bigger game for India than a game against Pakistan," the ICC Hall of Famer said as quoted by ICC.

"Your reputation is forged in what you do in the biggest contests on the international stage. So it is no surprise to me that that has happened," he added, describing Kohli's unbeaten 100 off 111 balls as a testament to his temperament and ability to deliver in crucial situations.

Ponting drew parallels between the batting stalwart's clutch knock in Melbourne at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022, against the same opponent, that steered India to a win to his brilliance in Dubai.

"Yeah, as you say, 2022 and now, he stood up against the team that he would probably steel himself the most to play against," Ponting said.

"And no bigger moment than last night when Pakistan had batted first on a tricky wicket. It needed someone at the top of the order to play a match-winning innings like that. And once again, it was Kohli