Gautam Gambhir gives befitting reply to Ricky Ponting's '2 hundreds in 5 years' remark on Virat Kohli

Gautam Gambhir gives reply to Ricky Ponting for comment on Kohli. (Image: X)

The much-awaited Border Gavaskar Trophy is about begin from November 22 and Gautam Gambhir had some tough questions to answer in the pre-Australia tour conference. Team India's head coach addressed the media in Mumbai on Monday and it is fair to say that he had some fire in his heart. Gambhir was informed about Ricky Ponting's comment on Virat Kohli's form, especially the point where he highlighted that the batter has only scored two hundreds in last 5 years of his Test career. The India head coach had a fiery reply to the remarks.

"What does Ponting have 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 (Sharma). I think they are incredibly tough men. They've achieved a lot for Indian cricket and they will continue to achieve a lot in the future as well," said Gambhir in press conference.

Gambhir expressed immense trust in both Rohit and Kohli, stating that the duo still work hard in the nets on their game, which is the most important factor for him. It is fair to worry if you are an Indian cricket fan looking at the duo's form in recent times but Gambhir believes the results will improve soon.

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"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 told the media.

Earlier, Ponting himself said that no other batter than Virat Kohli would have survived in a top international team if he had scored just 2-3 centuries in the last 5 years

"I saw a stat the other day about Virat, it said he's only scored two (three) Test hundreds in the last five years. That didn't seem right to me, but if that is right, then that is, I mean, that's a concern," Ponting had said in ICC Review.

"There wouldn't be anyone else probably even playing international cricket as a top-order batsman that's only scored two Test match hundreds in five years," he added.