“My leading wicket-taker for the tournament will be Jasprit Bumrah” – Ricky Ponting ahead of T20 World Cup 2024

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has predicted that Jasprit Bumrah will be the leading wicket-taker for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. Bumrah was at his absolute best in IPL 2024 for Mumbai Indians as he delivered at both ends of the innings.

The gun pacer scalped 20 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 16.80 and a parsimonious economy rate of 6.48 in IPL 2024. Bumrah has a plethora of variations in his repertoire and he has delivered consistently for the national team.

The talisman has picked 74 wickets in 62 T20I matches at an average of 19.66 and a brilliant economy rate of 6.56. 

Ricky Ponting said on ICC review, “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. 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.”

Ponting picked Travis Head to be the highest run-getter in the T20 World Cup. Head scored 567 runs in 15 matches at an average of 40.50 and a whirlwind strike rate of 191.55 in IPL 2024 and he has been in solid form.

Ponting added, “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. 

Head had veered off the track in the IPL playoffs but Ponting said the left-hander can win matches on his own.

“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, but he’ll be right up there, I’m sure, with the leading run scorers.”

India will begin its T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5th.