There seems to be a tussle going on between Ricky Ponting and Gautam Gambhir. The former Australian captain passed a comment over Virat Kohli’s form in Test cricket. However, he did back Kohli to get big runs in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
But that wasn’t well received by the India head coach. Gambhir was a little agitated and asked the question what does Ponting have to do with Indian cricket. That comment was again received very differently and was heavily criticized.
Ponting has responded back and admitted that he was surprised. He believes that he was quite ‘measured’ in his way of saying never write off champion players like Kohli.
“Look, I was a little bit surprised with the response I got from Gambhir. I thought I was pretty measured in what I had to say, ‘Never write off a champion and expect players like him to bounce back and play well in Australia’,” Ricky Ponting was quoted saying in the latest episode of ICC Review.
Ponting believes things can get out of hand in such high-pressure series’
India and Australia have built a rivalry of their own in the last few years. It has always been a fiercely contested series. Hence, the 49-year-old said that in series that these, things tend to get amplified and become big. There is constant talk in the media and amongst players. Such things have happened in the past where things have been misunderstood and blown out of proportion.
“I think in a series like this, everything gets amplified. So, the pressure on the players goes up, the media talk and chatter and speculation on certain players and conditions and all those things get amplified. And there are so many outlets now as well for people to view their opinions and stuff. So, look, I’ve seen it happen before. I was a little bit surprised with what Gautam had to say, and it seemed like it sort of created a few different reactions from a few people over in India as well. So, at the end of the day, maybe what I had to say might just add a little bit more to the series,” Ponting explained.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy kicks off on the 22nd of November in Perth. This is the first time in three decades that India and Australia will be playing each other in a five-match Test series. Australia have not won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 10 years. Their last win was back in 2014-15. Since then, India have won two series at home and two in Australia.
