'You were Usain Bolt?': Zaheer recalls fiery exchange with Ponting in 2010 Mohali Test
Former India pacer Zaheer Khan revealed his taunt to Ricky Ponting during their 2010 Mohali Test spat. Khan jokingly asked Ponting if he thought he was Usain Bolt after a failed quick single. This exchange occurred during a dramatic Test match where India secured a thrilling one-wicket victory.
More than a decade after one of the most talked-about flashpoints in India-Australia cricket, former India pacer Zaheer Khan has finally revealed what he said to Ricky Ponting during their heated exchange in the 2010 Mohali Test. The incident, etched in cricketing memory, unfolded after Ponting was run out following a sharp direct hit from Suresh Raina. Ponting’s run-out came at a crucial juncture of the Test, and the dismissal clearly didn’t sit well with the Australian captain.
As he walked past the Indian players, he immediately turned back, pointing his bat and engaging in a brief but intense verbal exchange before the on-field umpires intervened. For years, fans wondered what exactly had triggered Ponting’s reaction. Zaheer has now put the mystery to rest.
“You think you were Usain Bolt? ” Zaheer said smiling in an interview with Indian Express. The cheeky remark, aimed at Ponting’s attempted quick single, was delivered as the Indian team celebrated the crucial breakthrough.
Zaheer’s wider view of the practice, though, is rather interesting. “Sledging is not about use of bad words. It’s using it to your advantage, and not losing yourself in the process,” he says.