Unlikely match-winner Michael Clarke predicted he would win the second Test for Australia after being handed the ball in desperation late on the final day.
Clarke picked up 3-5 to rip through the Indian tail and hand Australia a record-equalling 16th consecutive victory.
The tourists had looked like hanging on for a courageous draw before being bowled out nine minutes before stumps.
"He said to me when I gave him the ball 'I think I've got just enough time to win us the game here'," Ponting said of his discussion with Clarke.
"He's always had a fair bit of confidence in himself."
"When he took the last one he ran past me and said 'you lucky so and so'."
Ponting admitted he was running out of time - and options - before throwing the ball to the part-time left-arm spinner.
Clarke, who had never taken a Test wicket in Australia before, responded with three wickets in one remarkable over.
"The last 30-40 minutes of the day's play was about gambling, about rolling the dice," Ponting explained.
"I tried most guys there in that last hour and a half."
"I had to do that at that time just to see who the batsmen were going to find the hardest to play."
"It looked like the fast blokes were easier to play than the spinners."
"At least with the way he (Clarke) bowls he's going to actually challenge the stumps so if he gets one to skid on he's a chance for an lb; if he gets one to hold up he's a chance for a catch behind."
The Australian captain rated the 122-run victory up there with the best he's been involved in.
"My overall emotion and feeling at the end of the game is it's as good a feeling as I've ever had on a cricket field," he said.
"Winning a Test like that, winning in the last eight or 10 minutes on the fifth day…any Test you win there is going to be pretty special."
"This win as good any I've played and I've played 114 now."
"I said last year after the Adelaide Test against England that was the best and this certainly isn't far behind."
Indian skipper Anil Kumble, who remained undefeated on 45, admitted: "It was very disappointing the way the result was."
"A fair result would have been a draw."