India coach Gautam Gambhir has staunchly defended Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, firing again at Australian legend Ricky Ponting for his criticism of the out-of-form stars.
After struggling a historic house whitewash towards New Zealand, India flew out on Monday to arrange for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar trophy.
Sharma was not on the aircraft, with the Indian skipper anticipated to overlook no less than the primary Check towards Australia in Perth as a consequence of private causes.
Gambhir supplied no replace on Sharma’s availability however confirmed quick bowler Jasprit Bumrah would captain India ought to the veteran opener be unavailable.
Sharma and Kohli each averaged simply 15 throughout three shedding Assessments towards New Zealand because the Black Caps turned the primary touring crew to win a red-ball collection in India for 12 years.
These performances led to Ponting, a long-time coach within the Indian Premier League, questioning their type.
“There would not be anybody else in all probability even enjoying worldwide cricket as a top-order batsman that is solely scored two Check match lots of in 5 years,” Ponting mentioned on an ICC podcast.
Gambhir was fast to chew again at these feedback when quizzed earlier than the Indian crew left Mumbai.
“What does Ponting should do with Indian cricket? I feel he ought to take into consideration Australian cricket,” he mentioned.
Feedback from former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting seem to have gotten underneath the pores and skin of Indian coach Gautam Gambhir. (AAP: Con Chronis, file)
“Extra importantly, I’ve received no issues in any way for Virat and Rohit.
“They’re extremely powerful males.
“They’ve achieved lots for Indian cricket, and they’re going to proceed to realize lots sooner or later as properly.
“For me, a very powerful factor is that they nonetheless work actually laborious, and so they’re nonetheless passionate, they nonetheless need to obtain much more.
“The starvation in that dressing room is extremely essential for me.
“I really feel there’s a variety of starvation, particularly after what has occurred within the final collection.”
Veteran KL Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran, who’ve performed greater than 100 first-class matches with out a Check debut, are in line to take Sharma’s spot ought to he not play.
The pair have been out cheaply in each innings towards Australia A on the MCG final week.
Rahul’s second-innings dismissal, the place he tried to go away the ball earlier than getting bowled, would have been regarding for India.
Rahul was batting within the middle-order for India earlier than he was dropped for the third Check towards New Zealand, however most of his worldwide runs have come when opening the batting.
“That’s the high quality of the person, that he can really bat on the high of the order, he can bat at No.3 and he can really bat at quantity six as properly,” Gambhir mentioned of Rahul.
“You want various expertise to be doing these form of jobs.
“Think about what number of international locations have gamers like KL who can open the batting and might bat at quantity six as properly.
“I really feel that he can do the job for us, particularly if Rohit is just not obtainable for the primary Check.”
AAP
