NEW DELHI: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has delivered a sharp assessment of India’s Test defeat to South Africa in Kolkata, warning that India’s strategy of preparing extreme turners is now backfiring on their own batters. With Rishabh Pant expected to lead India in the second Test in Guwahati due to Shubman Gill’s neck injury, Ponting also threw his full support behind the wicketkeeper-batter, saying his IPL captaincy experience will prepare him well for the challenge. Ponting, who coached Pant during their time together at Delhi Capitals, said the 26-year-old has the temperament and tactical awareness to handle a sudden leadership responsibility. “It’s never easy to come and fill in for a stop-gap captain, especially when you’ve lost a Test match a few days before,” Po

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