Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir conveys an indirect message to the former Australian captain Ricky Ponting for questioning Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s form ahead of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25.
The Indian batting stalwarts Rohit and Kohli are undergoing one of the toughest phases in their test career, particularly after the recent 3-0 whitewash to New Zealand in the home test series.
Ponting commented on Kohli’s inconsistency saying that a player scoring just two test hundreds in the past five years is practically impossible to survive in the team. In response, Gambhir said that Ponting should be concerned about only Australian cricket, and he doesn’t have anything to worry about with the Indian team.
In addition, Gambhir found support from another Aussie cricketer Mike Hussey saying that it wasn’t correct to underestimate the talented cricketers even if they aren’t in their peak form.
Ricky Ponting About Virat Kohli’s Form and Stats
The two-time ODI World Cup-winning captain Ricky Ponting highlighted Virat Kohli’s declining stats and his number of test centuries scored in five years:
“Yeah! I checked Virat’s stats which revealed that he scored only two test hundreds in the last five years. But, his records didn’t satisfy me. If it is right, then according to me, it is a huge concern.
Possibly, there wouldn’t be any top-order batsman surviving in international cricket with such stats.
Previously, I have said this about Kohli. You don’t ever doubt the best players of the game. Also, Australia is one such favorite team he loves to play against. Most importantly, his records in Australia are outstanding and if there is any opportunity left to prove his abilities, then it is this Border Gavaskar series. Overall, it wouldn’t be a surprising factor for me if Virat Kohli manages to score runs in the first match,” Ricky Ponting said in his recent conversation with ICC on November 10 (Sunday).
Gautam Gambhir’s counter-attacking answer to Ricky Ponting
Ahead of the Indian cricket team’s departure to the Australian tour, Gautam Gambhir answering to the media gave fiery comments to Ricky Ponting’s criticism:
“ No! I don’t understand what concern Ricky Ponting has toward the Indian cricket team. Rather, he should be focused on Australian cricket. It is a proven fact Rohit and Kohli are still one of the toughest cricketers to beat. They both are dedicated to the sport and are striving to achieve more outstanding results. Their proven hunger for accumulating huge runs and achieving success has motivated them to make effective contributions to the country in these years. You need to remember that Rohit and Kohli have elevated the standards of Indian cricket and will continue to achieve unimaginable success in the future.
Right now, the other players are performing their roles well, and I’m confident that they will continue to improve as a team. Overall, I have no doubts about Virat and Rohit’s form,” Gautam Gambhir said.
Mike Hussey Supports Gautam Gambhir’s Comments over Ricky Ponting’s Criticism
Hailed as the ‘Mr.Cricket’, the former Australian batsman Mike Hussey spoke about the complete incident on FOX Sports saying that Rohit and Kohli shouldn’t be overlooked in the challenging periods of their career:
“Certainly! We would be able to figure out in the first match itself where they (Australia and India) rank in terms of mental fitness and skills point of view. They have a huge fan base and top-quality players in the squad.
Just now we heard from Gautam Gambhir speaking about Rohit and Kohli’s inability to score runs. The craziest part is that you cannot neglect the true champion players. We have noticed this several times in the past where the duo batters have faced huge criticism but made a strong comeback to perform well in their next matches. So, I am supporting them to achieve success in the upcoming test series in Australia. We need to accept the fact that these two Indians are the most dedicated test cricketers. But, at the same time, I feel that Australians are the favorites to kickstart the series on a positive note,” Mike Hussey said.
Conclusion:
As India commences their preparation to compete against Australia in the highly anticipated Border Gavaskar Trophy, the form of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continues to be a huge cause for worry.
But, the year 2024, has been the most disappointing in Kohli’s career by scoring just two half-centuries in international cricket. Whereas, Rohit’s poor form with the bat after the T20 World Cup 2024 had a severe impact on his captaincy as well.
After the recent loss in the home test series against New Zealand, India needs to win at least 4 out of 5 test matches in the BGT to confirm their entry into the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final.
Finally, Rohit Sharma and his men need to aim for the third consecutive BGT win in Australia to make a hat trick into the WTC finals.