Before departing for Australia for the five-match Test series, Gambhir held a press conference, where he discussed a range of topics, including Rohit Sharma’s availability for the opening Test and the potential options of KL Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran as backup openers.

He was also asked to comment on the poor form of his senior batters, Rohit and Virat Kohli, who average 29.40 and 22.72 this year. While Rohit, who made 545 runs in 2023 at an average of 41.92, has not been able to replicate this form, Kohli’s poor run extends further.

Since the start of 2020, Rohit has made 1,838 runs at an average of 31.68 with two hundreds and nine fifties. Kohli’s last century came against the West Indies last July. He was also not amongst the runs during the recent home season, totalling 192 runs in 10 innings against Bangladesh and New Zealand.

Ponting recently claimed that no other player barring Kohli with two hundreds in the last five years would have survived in the team. While he had added that his form was a concern, he backed Kohli, a “great of the game” to turn it around in Australia.

Gambhir, however, criticised Ponting, saying the Australian has nothing to do with Indian cricket. “What does Ponting have to do with Indian cricket? He should think about Australian cricket. I don't have any concerns. They are incredibly tough men; they've achieved a lot for Indian cricket and are going to achieve a lot in future as well.

“For me the most important thing is that they still work very hard; they are still passionate; want to achieve a lot more. And that is something which is important. The hunger in the dressing room is invariably important for me and the entire group of people as well. There is a lot of hunger, especially after what has happened in the previous series."

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