'Trolling Indians': Ricky Ponting photo triggers cricket-obsessed nation
Ricky Ponting, like most people in society right now, has a fair bit of time on his hands amid the COVID-19 crisis that has sent much of the world into lockdown.
The former Aussie cricket captain has decided to kill some of that time by rifling through a few of his old things.
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Among the undoubtedly enormous masses of trophies, awards and other pieces of treasured memorabilia was one of his old bats.
However, it was not just any bat. It was the magical piece of willow that Ponting used to plunder a devastating century with in the 2003 World Cup final against India.
Ponting smashed more sixes (eight) than boundaries (four) in a swashbuckling unbeaten 140 (off 121 balls) to propel the Aussies to a mammoth total of 359 off their 50 overs.
Australia went on win the match by 126 runs for the third of their five World Cup triumphs.
It's fair to say that Indians have long memories when it comes to one of the game's most famous knocks, as evidenced by the reaction to Ponting's latest post.
"Given we've all got a bit of time on our hands as we stay at home, thought I'd go through what I've kept from my career and share some of it with everyone on a regular basis - this is the bat I used in the 2003 World Cup final," the 45-year-old tweeted.
Given we've all got a bit of time on our hands as we stay at home, thought I'd go through what I've kept from my career and share some of it with everyone on a regular basis - this is the bat I used in the 2003 World Cup final. pic.twitter.com/meoBP6NJvg
— Ricky Ponting AO (@RickyPonting) March 23, 2020
Ponting's tweet inadvertently sparked a social media frenzy in cricket-obsessed India, with fans demanding to know where the spring was in the bat.
The question arises from the widely held notion in India that the former skipper's bat must have been spring-loaded, due to the devastating nature of Ponting's hitting power.
"Cut it open we Indians think it has springs in it". Another user in his tweet said, "Every Indian from the 90's will be searching for the spring in the bat".
Indian fans lose it over Ponting’s bat
To rub salt into the wounds for Indian fans, the International Cricket Council (ICC) replied to Ponting's tweet with a highlights video of his famous knock.
#OnThisDay in 2003,
the blade in action 💥 pic.twitter.com/wRgLIl3lAi— ICC (@ICC) March 23, 2020
Every Indian from 90's will be searching for the spring in the bat😂😂
— Ashirwad Karande ℹ️ (@AshirwadKarande) March 23, 2020
Cut it open we indians think it has springs in it 😂😂😁😁😂😁
— Wash Hands + Isolate (@AshaVaadi) March 23, 2020
It seems there was some spring in your bat
Is it true sir?— R A T N I $ H (@LoyalSachinFan) March 23, 2020
THE BAT WITH THE SPRING! #fact #truestory
— North Stand Gang - Wankhede (@NorthStandGang) March 23, 2020
No Indian can forget this bat
— Tapan Joshi (@tapanjoshi28) March 23, 2020
After removing the grip........ pic.twitter.com/Juw3GivCAz
— Krishna (@Atheist_Krishna) March 23, 2020
We all heard the same thing...that Ponting having a bat with inbuilt spring in that.
Childhood memories.... 😁😁😀😀😂😂— Arun Mishra/अरुण मिश्र (@mishrarun20) March 23, 2020
Other fans saw the light side of Ponting's post, marvelling at how something so simple could trigger so many Indian fans.
Ricky ponting trolling Indians to pass time in quarantine 😭😭😭
— आर.एम (@runjhunmehrotra) March 23, 2020
Yeah yeah rub it into the Indians!
— Mohan Sinha (@Mohansinha) March 23, 2020
Triggering the whole Indian cricket. Well done Punter.
— DC612 (@bhoovi) March 23, 2020
Thanks for contributing to the collective trauma of passionate Indian cricket fans
— Sudarshan (@sudscholes) March 23, 2020
