After the conclusion of IPL 2025, Punjab Kings pacer Marco Jansen has now shifted focus to the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. During the IPL season, Jansen was closely monitored by former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, marking the first time the South African speedster had interacted with the cricketing legend.
As the 25-year-old gears up for the high-stakes WTC final, he opened up about his conversations with Ponting during their time together in the tournament, offering insight into the valuable guidance he received before bidding farewell to the cash-rich league. “Before I left (India), he (Ponting) just said `good luck, I hope you do well, but I hope you lose,” Jansen told ICC.
The pacer also stated that Ponting always highlights the positives in a player rather than focusing on their flaws.
“I learnt a lot from him, especially from a mental point of view. He is always positive and he always sees the good stuff instead of the bad stuff, if it makes sense,” said the South African.
“And I think that`s why he`s a legend of the game, because you always lean towards what could happen instead of what could go wrong. For me personally in the IPL, he`s helped a lot in that regard, because he always reminds you what could be, what you can do and what could happen instead of what couldn`t happen,” he added.
However, Jansen finished the tournament with 16 wickets under his belt in 14 matches. With an economy of 9.20, the pacer`s best bowling figures were three wickets for 17 runs. Punjab Kings suffered a loss by six runs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Further speaking about Stuart Broad, who has joined the South African team as a consultant for the WTC final, Jansen said, “Maybe I will pick his brain on what they did back then or what they did when he was playing to get certain batters out. And then, because I mean, you can ask all those questions and you can try and do it, but it doesn`t mean it`s going to work necessarily”.
South Africa, under Temba Bavuma`s captaincy, is all set to take on Australia for the WTC final, scheduled to be played from June 11 at the Lord`s Cricket Ground.
