Ricky Ponting gives ‘winning mantra’ to South Africa ahead of final vs India

Australia cricket legend Ricky Ponting has revealed the advice he plans to share with South Africa’s players as the Proteas aim to win their first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title.

South Africa secured their spot in the T20 World Cup final with an impressive nine-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the first semi-final on Wednesday. They now face fellow unbeaten side India in the title decider, seeking their first ICC tournament trophy. Ponting, who has coached several South African stars in the Indian Premier League and is renowned for his big-game prowess with three ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup titles for Australia, intends to connect with a group of Proteas players to offer advice ahead of the final in Barbados on Saturday.

Ponting’s guidance is straightforward: embrace the significance of playing in a T20 World Cup final. “A lot of teams say, ‘It’s just another game,’ and they try to hide from the magnitude of the occasion, but that’s not helpful. It’s all about embracing it for what it is,” Ponting said on the ICC’s Digital Daily show. “These players haven’t been there before, so enjoy tonight, enjoy tomorrow. But ensure your preparation remains consistent.” Ponting believes South Africa possesses the talent to compete with India in the final and encourages them to trust their skills and showcase their capabilities on the big stage.

“They are undefeated up to now, so they don’t need to change anything or try harder,” Ponting noted. “They just need to turn up, be the best version of themselves and their team, and give themselves the best chance. “If they do that, they will be hard to beat.” With Ponting’s advice and their unbeaten record, South Africa will aim to shed their “chokers” tag and claim a historic victory at the Kensington Oval.