Innocent Aussie sporting great Ricky Ponting is caught up in social media storm over 'cricket mafia' slur against India after their ODI World Cup loss

A fake tweet has made Australian cricket great Ricky Ponting public enemy number one in India, with their fans still in shock after comprehensively losing the World Cup final on home soil.

The tweet, posted on X on November 20 by a verified account with more than 2800 followers, alleged that the decorated former skipper lashed out at the powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), who he labelled 'cricket mafia.'

'Ricky Ponting on Fox Cricket: 'This is a win of justice against cricket mafia,' the scathing post read. 

'Your money and power is still not winning World Cups for you. How embarrassing.' 

The post also featured the view that Ponting had 'owned India and BCCI' thanks to his blunt comments, with the tweet since viewed more than a million times with over 700 replies.

Problem is, Ponting didn't say any of those words.

What he actually did say was telling - in commentary for Sky Sports, Ponting singled out Pat Cummins out for praise, lauding his leadership after the Aussies bowled out the shell-shocked hosts for just 240 from their 50 overs.

The underdogs then overcame a shaky start to win by six wickets, with Travis Head's century proving to be crucial.

'I think [the captaincy] has been almost faultless, to be honest,' Ponting said.

'I mean, any captain deciding to bowl first at the toss, that's a gutsy, courageous move. 

'Australia felt that if they could bowl well on that dry wicket early on and restrict India, batting was gonna get easier - but we all know if you get that call wrong and you lose the game, that's a huge decision to make for a relatively young captain.

'I thought his leadership actually got better and better through the tournament. 

'His bowling has also got better, and the way he used his bowlers and some of his field placements to [Virat] Kohli and KL Rahul, [just] outstanding.

'Once again, an Australian team found a way to get it done in a World Cup final.'