Gautam Gambhir Defends Virat Kohli in Fiery Exchange with Ricky Ponting Ahead of Border Gavaskar Trophy

Ahead of the highly anticipated Border Gavaskar Trophy starting on November 22 in Perth, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir engaged in a heated argument with former Australian captain Ricky Ponting. The matter intensified after Ponting voiced concerns regarding Virat Kohli’s recent form, which has been under scrutiny throughout 2024, especially after his poor form against Kiwi boys in home test series.

During a pre-departure press conference, Gambhir staunchly defended both Kohli and Rohit Sharma, dismissing Ponting’s critiques as unwarranted. Gambhir said

“What is ponting doing in Indian cricket?”

Suggesting that Ponting should focus on Australian cricket instead. He expressed confidence in Kohli and Sharma’s abilities, despite their recent underwhelming performances. Kohli has amassed 488 runs in 25 innings across all formats this year, averaging 20.33, including a disappointing 93 runs in the latest Test series against New Zealand, where his average plummeted to 15.50.

Ponting clarified that his remarks were not personal attacks, despite the history between him and Gambhir. Ponting stated

“Gambhir’s remarks were not aimed at Kohli personally. I was a bit surprised with the reaction… he’s quite a prickly character, but he’s a class player, and he’s played well in Australia before and will want to play well again.”

The exchange underscores the mounting pressure on Kohli and Sharma as India prepares for a challenging series against Australia. 

As the Border Gavaskar Trophy approaches, the focus remains on how Kohli and Sharma will respond to the criticism and pressure, with expectations high for their performances to steer India towards success.