IND vs AUS: "What Concerns He Has For Indian Cricket?" - Gambhir Reacts to Ponting's Criticism of Kohli Form

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Stick to Australian cricket was an indirect message as Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Monday (November 11) slammed Ricky Ponting for criticizing Virat Kohli around his form ahead of the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The former Australian captain Ponting had recently commented on Kohli's form, suggesting that any other player with only two centuries in five years would not have survived in the team.

"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 was quoted as saying by ICC on Sunday (November 10).

Kohli and even skipper Rohit Sharma head into the Australia on the back of poor form. The duo's recent slump attracted scrutiny following India's 0-3 series loss against New Zealand earlier this month.

Rohit has accumulated 588 runs from 11 matches this year, averaging 29.40 with two centuries and two fifties. Meanwhile, Kohli has managed just 250 runs from six matches (12 innings), averaging 22.72 with just one half-century.

Addressing the media before departing for Australia for the five-match Test series, Gambhir responded to questions regarding the form of Kohli and Rohit. Terming Ponting's opinions on Indian cricket 'irrelevant', the former batter affirmed that both the big guns have a lot of passion and hunger for the team.

"Not at all...Ricky Ponting should think about Australian cricket, what concerns he has for Indian cricket? Virat and Rohit are incredibly tough men. They've achieved a lot for Indian cricket and they will continue to achieve a lot," Gambhir said in the press conference on Monday (November 11).

"They still work really hard. They're 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 room. I feel there's a lot of hunger, especially after what has happened in the last series," he further added.

The form of Kohli and Rohit is a significant concern as India prepares to face Australia, needing to win at least 4 Tests to secure their spot in the World Test Championship Final (WTC).

Speaking of India's schedule Down Under, the series opener will be in Perth on November 22, while the second Test, featuring the day-night format, will take place under lights at Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10.

The action will then shif to The Gabba in Brisbane for the third Test from December 14 to 18. The traditional Boxing Day Test, scheduled from December 26 to 30 at Melbourne's iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, will mark the series' penultimate stage.

The fifth and final Test will be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7, promising an exciting climax to a highly anticipated series. Rohit and Co will be hoping they book a third successive series win in Australia and a third straight WTC final spot.