Gautam Gambhir Slams Ricky Ponting Over Virat Kohli 'Preference' Remark as India Head Coach Attends Pre-Departure Press Conference in Mumbai Ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25

India national cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has fired shots at Australia's legendary cricketer Ricky Ponting's remark on India star batter Virat Kohli. Earlier, Ponting commented on Virat Kohli's poor form in Test cricket, saying that any other player wouldn't have survived in the playing XI had he made just two or three hundred in the last five years. Before leaving for Australia for the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, India head coach Gambhir attended the press conference on Monday. BGT 2024-25: Rohit Sharma Remains Uncertain For IND vs AUS 1st Test 2024-25.

The India head coach was questioned about the poor form of India captain Rohit Sharma and veteran batter Kohli. Gambhir backed the duo, saying they still work hard and are passionate about their game. When asked about Ponting's remark over Kohli, the India head coach said that the Australia legend has nothing to do with Indian cricket. Ricky Ponting Predicts Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25 Scoreline in Favour of Australia, Says ‘Will Stick With 3–1’.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are not at their best in Test cricket in 2024. Rohit has made 588 runs in 11 Tests at an average of 29.40, including two centuries and as many half-centuries. Kohli, on the other hand, scored 250 in six Tests, at a below-average of 22.72, including one fifty.

"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. I think 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," Gambhir said in the press conference.

The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be crucial for Team India, as they need to win by atleast 4-1 in order to qualify for the World Test Championship 2023-25 final without depending on the other team's result. The opening Test of the five-match series will be played in Perth from November 22.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 11, 2024 10:55 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).