Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has put his weight behind Gautam Gambhir over the India coach’s fiery remarks on Ricky Ponting during a press conference ahead of the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. The feud between Gambhir and Ponting began when the former Australian captain criticized Virat Kohli’s recent form. Gambhir, unhappy with the remarks, fired back, questioning Ponting’s relevance to Indian cricket. In response, Ponting described Gambhir as a “prickly character” and clarified his original comments.
Speaking to RevSportz, Ganguly stated, “Let him be. I saw some criticism of what he said in the press conference. It is the way he is. Let him be. When he won the IPL, he was the same. You were going gaga over him. Just because he has lost three Test matches and a one-day series against Sri Lanka, the straight talk has not been looked at nicely. But that is the way he is.”
Gambhir’s recent remarks came in response to Australian legend Ricky Ponting’s comments about Virat Kohli’s dip in form. Ponting had expressed concern over Kohli’s underwhelming performances, prompting Gambhir to dismiss the critique and suggest Ponting focus on Australian cricket instead. “What does Ponting have to do with Indian cricket? He should think about Australian cricket. We have no concerns about Kohli or Rohit. They have achieved a lot for Indian cricket and will do so in the future as well,” Gambhir said.
The comment sparked mixed reactions, with Tim Paine branding Gambhir as a “prickly character” with Ponting also clarifying that he backed Kohli to perform well in the upcoming series.
Ganguly, who has shared the field with Gambhir in the past, believes the criticism directed at the coach is premature. “Australians, from the time I have watched cricket, have been tough for you. They have played their cricket that way, whether it was Waugh, Ponting, or Hayden. There is nothing wrong with what Gambhir has said. He fights and competes. Let us give him a chance. It has just been two or three months, and you are passing judgment on him,” he added.
India, under Gambhir’s coaching tenure, has had a challenging start, with losses to New Zealand and Sri Lanka raising questions about his strategies. However, Ganguly remains optimistic, urging patience as the team transitions under his leadership.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting on November 22, will be a critical test for both Gambhir and the Indian team as they face a formidable Australia.
