New Delhi: ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting praised New Zealand's performance in the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where they narrowly missed out on the title after losing to India in the final held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 9, as reported by ICC Review.
A rapid half-century from captain Rohit Sharma, a solid innings from Shreyas Iyer, and effective bowling spells from spinners, particularly Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, enabled a well-rounded Indian team to secure their third ICC Champions Trophy title, defeating New Zealand by four wickets in Dubai.
In an interview with Crystal Arnold on the latest episode of The ICC Review following the final, Ponting remarked, "I don't believe New Zealand's campaign went awry at all. They had another exceptional tournament and performed brilliantly throughout. When asked at the tournament's outset about my predictions for the final four, I always include New Zealand because they consistently deliver."
"I didn't include them this time, thinking Pakistan would advance due to being the host and that South Africa would also make it. Yet, there they were again. Their performance against South Africa in the semi-final was dominant, showcasing one of the best displays of one-day cricket. Scoring over 360 runs while batting first is an impressive feat, likely the highest total ever recorded in a Champions Trophy match," the former Australian captain added.
The 50-year-old also commended Matt Henry, who, due to injury, missed the final but concluded the tournament as the leading wicket-taker.
They faced a formidable opponent in the final and came close to victory. India secured their win in the 49th or 50th over. The team has performed admirably, even without some of their key players stepping up in that match and without Matt Henry, their leading wicket-taker, being fit to play. Overall, they had an impressive campaign, and if they continue to position themselves for success, it’s only a matter of time before they clinch an ICC tournament title, the former right-handed batsman remarked.
Another key player for the Black Caps was Glenn Phillips, who excelled in all areas of the game, particularly with his remarkable catches in the field.
Ponting, a former top fielder for Australia, commended Phillips' fielding skills, placing him among the elite in this aspect of the game.
"If you compile a highlights reel, his would likely surpass anyone else's. Although he hasn't played nearly as many matches as renowned fielders like Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, Andrew Symonds, or Paul Collingwood, he stands out," the former World Cup champion noted.
Ponting then explored the technical elements of Phillips' performance.
"His agility is truly exceptional. His capacity to leap for catches, many of which are taken with one hand, showcases not only his agility but also the skill required to secure the ball," Ponting elaborated.
Reflecting on his favorite moment from Phillips' highlights at the Champions Trophy, Ponting mentioned, "I came across a quote where he expressed that his catch in the final against Shubman Gill was his best. However, I believe the catch against Kohli in the last group match was even more impressive."
I have viewed that catch several times, and I believe he could have secured it with both hands, which may have made it appear more impressive than necessary. However, some of his other catches are truly exceptional. I've also witnessed him make remarkable catches in Test cricket, particularly in the same region at backward point, as the former cricketer noted.
