Ricky Ponting on Usman Tariq's bowling action (Source:X)
The much-anticipated encounter between India and Pakistan in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 is just hours away, and one player who has gained immense limelight before the match is Usman Tariq.
The right-arm spinner's unconventional bowling action, which features a sidearm action and a distinct pause before delivery, has drawn considerable attention. As the two teams prepare to battle it out, India’s players might face a unique challenge with their bowling style.
Ricky Ponting's strong stance on Usman Tariq's action
Speaking to the ICC via Instagram, Ricky Ponting shared his insights on how Indian batters should handle Usman Tariq’s bowling.
He emphasised the importance of playing with a straight bat and targeting the straight boundaries, rather than trying to go across the line. It is also important to mention that the Australia's former captain also expressed his disappointment with Cameron Green.
Ricky Ponting remarked, "I was disappointed with Cameron Green's reaction when he got out against him, almost mimicking what he was doing and talking about his bowling action. You’ve seen it—you know what he does. There shouldn't be any surprises.”
Ricky Ponting also added - “You know he’s going to walk up, you know he’s going to pause, and you know he’s going to have that very low-arm action. It’s no good complaining about it. It’s there—you’ve got to find a way to combat it and play it well,”.
Tariq’s bowling action again gained attention when Australian all-rounder Cameron Green raised doubts during the second T20I between Pakistan and Australia before the T20 World Cup 2026. Green was seen questioning his action, alleging that he might be ‘chucking’ after getting out.
Watch the video here:
India's special preparation to face Usman Tariq
It is vital to note that to tackle and face Tariq, the Indian team management under Gautam Gambhir came up with a unique solution. In a video that went viral from the ‘Men in Blue’ training session, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav was seen replicating Tariq’s bowling action and was trying to bowl to Abhishek Sharma and Rinku Singh.
Is Usman Tariq’s Bowling Action Legal?
Now, with so much chatter going around Tariq’s bowling action, the next question that has gained momentum is whether Usman Tariq's bowling action legal?
This is not the first time that a Pakistani spinner in the talks earlier; he was targeted for his action. However, the ICC has cleared the spinner's action multiple times.
He has also passed all required biomechanics tests, with the global body officially declaring his bowling action as legal.
However, even with the ICC's clearance, Tariq’s action continues to remain a point of debate, especially given the unusual way he bends his elbow while delivering the ball.
For many batters, the pause before the delivery and the low-arm action have made it harder to pick the ball early, making him a challenging bowler to face.
As India and Pakistan prepare for their high-stakes encounter in the 2026 T20 World Cup, the focus will also be on Tariq’s bowling.
