If history has taught cricket teams anything, it’s that poking Virat Kohli is not the best idea. The often talismanic Indian batsman did more damage with his bat after being provoked than if left alone. Australia legend Ricky Ponting’s comments questioning the Indian team star’s place in the Test squad have been labeled a ‘bad move’ by his former teammate Brett Lee. Ponting’s comments were also criticized by India coach Gautam Gambhir, who asked him to think more about the Australian team than the Indian team.
Some of Virat Kohli’s most famous performances have been performed in Australia. Statistically he is not in peak form at the moment, but Lee fears Ponting’s comments will force him to deliver Down Under once again.
“That’s bad behavior, Ricky. What are you doing? You’ll fire that guy. He’s a world-class player and we’ll fire him here too,” Lee said on Fox Cricket’s podcast The Following On.
What did Ricky Ponting say about Virat Kohli?
“I saw some stats about Virat the other day. It said he’s only had two Test hundreds in the last five years. That didn’t seem right to me, but if it’s accurate then that, I mean, that’s a concern,” he said. Ponting said.
“There is probably no other batsman playing international cricket at the highest level who has scored 100 runs in just two Test matches in five years.”
Ponting’s comments even angered Gambhir, who is a similar figure to Kohli, and the India coach wasted no time in attacking the former Australia captain.
“I was surprised to read the reaction, but I know coach Gautam Gambhir. He’s quite a prickly character, so I’m not surprised that it was him who responded,” Ponting told 7News.
However, Ponting also confirmed that he had no intention of slamming Kohli. In fact, he feels Kohli has what it takes to bounce back in Australia.
“It was by no means a criticism of him (Kohli). I actually followed up by saying that he played well in Australia and would love to come back here… If you ask Virat, I’m sure he does. He’s confident.” “I would be a little concerned about the fact that I wasn’t making the same amount of money I was making in previous years,” he said.
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