Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has backed Khaleel Ahmed to make it to India’s Test squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar trophy. Ahmed, being a left-arm pacer, will provide a different angle to the team.

Meanwhile, Ahmed was part of India’s reserves for the T20 World Cup. The left-arm seamer was then included on the tour of Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

Ahmed has picked 25 wickets in 12 first-class matches at an average of 35 but he is yet to make his Test debut.

“Someone like Khaleel Ahmed I think could find himself on the Test tour. A left-armer would be ideal for them to have in their touring squad. I know he’s just been over in Zimbabwe recently and played that (T20I) series over there, but a left-armer would be ideal for them to have in their touring squad,” Ponting said on the most recent edition of the ICC Review.

Meanwhile, after David Warner’s retirement, Australia decided to promote Steve Smith to the opening slot. Smith scored 171 runs in four matches at an average of 28 as an opener and Ponting reckons it will be the only question Australia will ask themselves. The former captain backed all-rounder Cameron Green to return to the Test team.

“Probably the only one question there might be with Australia again, is if (Steve) Smith’s the right man to be opening the batting. That would be the only query that I can see there. But that was all about obviously bringing Cameron Green back into the side,” Ponting opined in the same interaction.

Meanwhile, India savored success on the last two tours of Australia, winning by 2-1 on both occasions. India won their maiden Test series on Australian soil in 2018-19 under the leadership of Virat Kohli.

Subsequently, India had its backs against the wall after losing the opening Test at Adelaide in the previous tour when it was bundled out for 36. However, the Ajinkya Rahane-led team registered a historic series win.

The first Test match between India and Australia will be played in Perth from November 22.