Ricky Ponting wants Virat Kohli to bat at his usual No. 3 position in the limited overs format despite his current form. The former Australia captain believes “moving him around” could further unsettle him.

“I think if I was an opposition captain or an opposition player, I will be fearing playing an Indian team that has Virat Kohli in it, more than I would be one that doesn’t have him in it,” Ponting told The ICC Review.

“I know there have been some challenges for him, it’s been a difficult time. But every great player that I have seen in this game has been through it at some stage, whether that’s a batsman or a bowler, they have all been through it. And somehow, the best find a way to rebound and respond, and it’s only a matter of time before Virat does that.”

Kohli has not scored an international century since November 2019.

“The other thing you risk as well is, if you leave Virat out on the eve of a T20 World Cup, and someone comes in and has a reasonable tournament, it will be hard for Virat to get back in it.”

“If I was India, I would keep pushing with him, because I know the upside. If they actually get him back confident and playing as well as he can, that upside is better than most... I’d be making life as easy as possible for him to feel as comfortable as possible, and just wait for him to flick the switch and start scoring runs again.

“Early in the tournament, for a first-round game, get him in nice and early, among the runs, and then hopefully by the end you’ll have Virat Kohli back at his best,” he said.