‘What does Ponting have to do with Indian cricket?’ - Gautam Gambhir defends Virat Kohli ahead of BGT 2024-25

Former Australia cricketer Ricky Ponting recently stated his concerns regarding Virat Kohli’s form in Test cricket. The 36-year-old is currently going through a rough patch, having scored only two Test centuries since 2019. Ponting highlighted the same and mentioned that any international cricketer would have been dropped from the squad with those kinds of numbers.

“I saw a stat the other day about Virat, it said he's only scored two (three) Test hundreds in the last five years. That didn't seem right to me, but if that is right, then that is, I mean, that's a concern. There wouldn't be anyone else probably even playing international cricket as a top-order batsman that's only scored two Test match hundreds in five years,” Ponting said while speaking on the latest episode of ICC Review.

Also Read - 'That is a concern' - Ricky Ponting points out worrying Virat Kohli stat in Test cricket

However, India head coach Gautam Gambhir isn’t bothered about Kohli’s form and is backing the cricketer to find his mojo in the five-match series against Australia. The Delhi-born eventually took a dig at Ponting, asking him to concentrate on Australian cricket and not Indian cricket ahead of the upcoming edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, slated to begin on November 22. 

“What does Ponting to has to do with Indian cricket? I think he should think about Australian cricket and more importantly have got no concerns whatsoever for Virat and Rohit. I think they are incredibly tough men. They've achieved a lot for Indian cricket, and they will continue to achieve a lot in future as well,” Gambhir said in the press conference in Mumbai on November 11.

The 43-year-old also highlighted that the senior cricketers are still passionate and hungry for more success, and that is what's important to him. He noted that the series defeat to New Zealand was unfortunate but added that it can fuel the players for the five-match Australia series.

“For me, the most important thing is that they still work really hard, and they still passionate, they still want to achieve a lot more and that is something which is very important. The hunger in that dressing room is incredibly important for me. And for the entire group of people as well in that dressing in dressing rooms. And I feel there is a lot of hunger and especially after what has happened in the last series,” he added.