Only a matter of time before Kohli rebounds: Ponting

Australia great Ricky Ponting said the upside for India should they stick with Kohli will be far greater than if they omit the right-hander from their squad for the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.

"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 said while speaking on The ICC Review.

Ponting, who captained Australia to two World Cup triumphs in 2003 and 2007, said Kohli still had the ability to have a meaningful impact.

"And somehow, the best (players) find a way to rebound and respond, and it's only a matter of time before Virat does that."

Ponting thinks if India do decide to omit Kohli for the T20 World Cup in Australia, there might be no way back for Kohli.

"If you leave Virat out of the eve of the World Cup, and someone comes in and has a reasonable tournament, it will be hard for Virat to get back in it," Ponting said.

Ponting believes Kohli's best performances for his country have come when he has been settled both on the field and off the field, and the former Australia skipper thinks India's coaching hierarchy needs to try and instill that belief back in their star player as soon as possible.

"I will be going the other way. I'll be telling him, 'This is your spot, this is where you're batting, it's not going to change. Keep believing in yourself, keep putting in the hard work, keep believing what made you the best player in the world for a number of years – get back to those thoughts and the runs will come'."