Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting recently talked about his friendship with Rajasthan Royals coach and cricket legend Rahul Dravid. Both of them are big names in their countries and have delivered amazing performances over the years. They both played at No. 3 and have made their marks in cricket history. One of their standout moments was during the 2003 Test series between India and Australia when they both scored double centuries in the second Test.

In an interview with the Indian Express, Ponting shared how he supported Dravid after a tough Test series. “We could see he was struggling, and the media was all over him. It was getting to him. Rahul and I have always had a great relationship. We were fierce competitors as No. 3 batters for our countries. Class and quality don’t just disappear; sometimes they get buried. Some players just need a little help to get back on track,” Ponting explained.

He added, “I just told him, ‘Forget about the outside noise, trust yourself, and remember what made you a great player. If you focus on that and ignore the small stuff, you can end your career strong.’ He took that advice. And funnily enough, when I was near the end of my career, he was the first to reach out and remind me of that.”

Ponting pointed out that he wouldn’t give the same advice to players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, calling them “champion players.” He said, “You can’t count out quality players. They’re champions for a reason and always find a way to bounce back. Over the last couple of years, Virat has proven that when he hits a rough patch. He’s a top-tier player, and Rohit is in a similar spot. Test cricket has been tricky for them lately, but Rohit is still a force in ODIs. Virat is the best white-ball player I’ve ever seen.”

Ponting also joked about whether he’d give Rohit and Virat the same advice he gave Rahul at the start of an IPL season, saying, “But I really enjoy watching those guys play international cricket, and I hope they keep playing for years to come.”