Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has made a surprising call by leaving out Virat Kohli from the widely recognized ‘Fab Four,’ which traditionally includes the best batters of this generation. Instead, Ponting’s version of the elite quartet features Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson vying for the title of “best of their generation,” while he firmly believes Smith is the standout player of the modern era.
Following Smith’s return to form, which saw him register three centuries in his last four Tests—including a magnificent 141 on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle—Ponting was quick to recognize the Australian batter’s greatness. During the same innings, Smith also surpassed the 10,000-run milestone in Test cricket, further solidifying his case as one of the best of his era.
“Is he the best player of his generation? It’s hard to argue against it,” Ponting told The Sydney Morning Herald. “Joe Root is the other one now, and [Kane] Williamson’s record is outstanding as well. Joe’s last couple of years have elevated him right back up there, I think.”
While Ricky Ponting lauded Root’s resurgence and Williamson’s consistency, Virat Kohli’s name was noticeably absent from his list. The Indian batter, who once defined excellence across all formats, has struggled to maintain his dominance in recent years. His most recent Test series, a five-match encounter against Australia, saw him score only 190 runs, with a lone century being the highlight. His vulnerability outside the off-stump has further fueled concerns about his adaptability, leading to scrutiny over his place among the top batters of this era.
Ponting further explained the shifting landscape of the Fab Four, emphasizing how Root’s exceptional form has transformed the debate. “Five or six years ago, when this big four emerged, with Kohli being one of those as well, Joe was probably down near the bottom part of that because he hadn’t made the hundreds the other guys had made, but he’s made 19 hundreds in the past four years,” he said.
The former Australian captain also acknowledged that personal biases might influence opinions on the best batter of this generation. “If you asked an Englishman, they’d say Joe Root; if you asked an Aussie, they’d say Steve Smith; and if you asked a Kiwi, they’d say Kane Williamson. So it’s a tough one, but on the numbers themselves, it’s pretty hard to argue against what he’s done.”