Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir attended the pre-Australia tour press conference where he responded to all questions to the reporters over the team’s 0-3 loss against New Zealand at home and the preparations for the Australia series. When informed of the comments Australia great Ricky Ponting made on star batter Virat Kohli’s form, especially the fact that the latter has scored just two tons in the last 5 years of his Test career, Gambhir responded well, shutting down 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. 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 Gautam Gambhir in the press conference.

However, Gautam Gambhir also reaffirmed his belief in both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, saying that they continue to work hard in the nets and their game, which is the most important thing for him as well.

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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 had also said that he doesn’t think any other top-order batter would’ve survived in a top international team had he scored just 2-3 centuries in the last 5 years as well.

“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.