Former Australia captain Tim Paine believes Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir overreacted to former Australia captain Ricky Ponting’s comments over Virat Kohli’s recent form. Paine added that the biggest concern for India is the coach’s inability to stay calm under pressure as well.

With Ponting saying during an episode of the ICC Review that any player other than Kohli wouldn’t have been playing Tests after scoring only two centuries in the last five years, Gambhir didn’t take it well. During a pre-departure presser, he hit back, saying Ponting shouldn’t have anything to do with Indian cricket as well.

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Speaking to SEN Tassie, Paine said, “I don’t love it. I think he’s maybe looking at Ricky still as someone he’s playing against, but Ricky is a commentator now – he’s paid to give an opinion, and his opinion was spot on. Virat has been sliding, it is a concern, absolutely. But for me now, the biggest concern for India right now isn’t Rohit Sharma’s batting, isn’t Virat Kohli’s batting, it’s their coach and his ability to stay calm under pressure.”

However, Tim Paine hailed ex-India coach Ravi Shastri for fostering a great team environment and making it relaxing for the players as well, unlike the competitive nature at present.

“Their last two series wins out here they had Ravi Shastri who was fantastic. He created a great environment, the players were energised, they played with passion, he sold them the dream and motivated them in a really light-hearted enjoyable. They have gone to a new coach now that is really prickly, really competitive – and that not to say that’s not a good thing and a good way to coach – but my concern is that it’s not a great fit for the Indian cricket team,” Tim Paine concluded.