Gambhir lays into Aussie great Ponting, says he should be more worried about his team than India as squad departs for BGT
MUMBAI: Despite their recent slump in form, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir is standing firmly behind veterans, skipper Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli, whose places in the team have come under scrutiny.
As India prepared to leave for Australia for the much anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy-a five-Test series for the first time since 1991-92- Gambhir, in characteristic style, fired back at Australian legend Ricky Ponting for questioning Kohli’s form and place in the Indian team, suggesting Ponting should focus on cricket in his country.

Ponting had voiced concerns about Kohli’s prolonged slump, noting that the great batter has scored only two Test centuries in the last five years. Nonetheless, Ponting also backed the former India captain to roar back to form against Australia in Australia, given that he loves playing against the Aussies, and has a great record in Australia.
“What does Ponting have to do with Indian cricket?” Gambhir questioned during a media interaction on Monday. “I think he should think about Australian cricket. More importantly, I have got no concerns whatsoever for Virat and Rohit.”

Kohli has averaged merely 22.72 in six matches in 2024, the lowest in his career. The 36-year-old has scored just one fifty this year – 70 against New Zealand in the second innings of the first Test at Bengaluru, while his last Test century came in July 2023 against the West Indies. Kohli scored 93, and Rohit 91 runs in the India’s humiliating 0-3 Test series loss to New Zealand at home.
When asked if the senior batters’ poor form is a concern, Gambhir was quick to reply, “Not at all.” “They are incredibly tough men. They have achieved a lot for Indian cricket, and they will continue to achieve a lot in future as well. For me, the most important thing is that they still work really hard, and they are still passionate, they still want to achieve a lot more and that is something which is very important,” he stressed.

‘Transition or not, seniors are hungry to succeed’
As a head coach, Gambhir is bound to have a sense of deja vu as he boards the flight to Australia. He was a part of a team full of veteran players, which crumbled and went through a complete transition after the high of the 2011 World Cup with a new coach Duncan Fletcher in charge.
Asked if he was feeling the pressure like Fletcher, Gambhir replied: “I am not thinking about transition but the five Tests. Transition or no transition, if that has to happen, will happen but I see some incredibly tough characters in that dressing room who are hungry to do well. The only thing in my mind is, we are going to Australia to play five Test matches.”
Batting continuously for senior pros Rohit and Kohli, the former India opener said it was the media which was obsessed with the word “transition”.

“You guys can keep talking about the transition and all that stuff. For me, they are still very hungry. I am sure they have got a lot of fire to achieve a lot of success for the nation and you should never doubt their passion for the country,” Gambhir said.
Reflecting on his own career values, Gambhir said, “I’ve told them to put the team above personal milestones.” When asked if he felt pressure following India’s recent home defeat to New Zealand, Gambhir replied, “What difference does it make? Tell me, social media, what difference does it make in my life and for that matter, anyone’s life?
Gambhir made it clear that when he accepted the job, he was aware that coaching India would not be an easy task.
“When I took up this job, I always thought that it was going to be a highly difficult job and highly prestigious job as well. I don’t think as if I am feeling the heat because my job is to be absolutely honest and there are some incredibly tough people in that dressing room who have achieved some great things for the country and will continue to achieve some great things for the country. It is an absolute honour to be coaching them and coaching India,” he said.
Gambhir admitted that he was open to the criticism following the New Zealand series loss, saying he’s “ready to accept it with both hands.”
However, he expressed confidence in India’s ability to tackle Australia’s fast and bouncy tracks. “We don’t control what wickets they give. It is their wish, whatever they want to dish us with. We are absolutely ready to play in any kind of conditions and we have got all the bases (covered) out. What difference does it make whether they give us a turning track or bouncy tracks or green wickets?”