The rivalry between India and Australia continues to heat up off the field as Gautam Gambhir and Ricky Ponting engage in a war of words ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The issue began when Ponting questioned the form of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, suggesting that Kohli’s recent struggles with the bat could jeopardize his place in the Indian Test team.

Ponting noted that Kohli had only scored two Test centuries in the last five years, a statistic he found concerning for a top-order batsman, and implied that it would be unusual for any player to retain their place with such a lack of recent centuries. However, Ponting clarified that his remarks were not meant to insult Kohli, expressing confidence that the Indian star would find his form again in Australia, a place where he has had success in the past.

Gambhir, reacting to these comments during a pre-series press conference, was quick to defend Kohli and Rohit, calling the criticism unwarranted. He sharply responded, "What does Ponting have to do with Indian cricket? He should think about Australian cricket." Gambhir also emphasized the strength and achievements of both Kohli and Rohit, dismissing any concerns about their place in the team.

Ponting, in turn, responded to Gambhir’s comments, describing the India head coach as a "prickly character" and expressing surprise at the backlash. Despite the heated exchange, Ponting reiterated that he has great respect for Kohli and believes he will bounce back.

The tension between the two cricketing greats adds an intriguing subplot to the upcoming series, with the eyes of both Indian and Australian fans firmly fixed on the action both on and off the field.