'We've got a bit of history': Ricky Ponting responds to Gautam Gambhir's remarks, calls him 'prickly character'

Ricky Ponting responds to Gautam Gambhir's remarks, calls him 'prickly character'

The India vs Australia Test series is yet to get underway but tensions have already started inflating off the field. Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting recently made a remark on Virat Kohli, which didn't sit well with India head coach Gautam Gambhir. To give more context, Ponting while speaking at ICC Review podcast had touched on Virat Kohli's lack of centuries in the red ball format. The Australian legend pointed out that Kohli has "only scored two (three) Test hundreds in the last five years," and added: "that didn't seem right to me. 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."

Gambhir, who addressed the media in Mumbai on Monday, was asked about Ponting's comment on Kohli, to which the Indian head coach had a very blunt take. "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," was Gambhir's response.

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Ponting did take note of Gambhir's remarks at the presser and responded to it while speaking on Australia's Channel Seven. The former Australia skipper described Gambhir as a "prickly character" and said that the duo share a bit of a history. "We've got a bit of a history as well. We've played against each other and I actually coached him at Delhi Daredevils, he's quite a prickly character," said Ponting.

Ponting was also asked if he would shake hands with Gambhir before the first ball in Perth, to which the Aussie said: "If he comes my way. Yeah!"

Ponting explains his comments on Virat

Speaking to Channel Seven, Ponting also clarified that his comments were not a dig taken at Kohli. “I said I would be concerned (about his form). But I think if you ask Virat, I’m sure Virat would be a little bit concerned that he hasn’t been able to make the same amount of hundreds as he has in previous years. In no way was it a dig at him. I actually followed it up by saying he’s played well in Australia and he’ll be keen to bounce back over here. So, it’s amazing how little things can get cut up, but he’s a class player and he’s played well in Australia in the past."