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Ponting baits the hook for India’s ‘prickly’ coach

Ponting baits the hook for India’s ‘prickly’ coach

Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting says he expects India coach Gautam Gambhir to become “prickly” with his side and the media if things don’t go India’s way this summer.

Ponting was clipped by Gambhir after the former Aussie skipper called Virat Kohli’s form into question following India’s unexpected 3-0 series loss to New Zealand at home.

India’s new mentor did not take too kindly to the commentary, telling Ponting to concentrate on Australian players rather than India.

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His choice of words didn’t impress former Australia players and former England captain Nasser Hussein, who roasted the head coach for the comments.

The appointment of Gambhir has given rise to the thought that the Indian dressing room will be tense this summer, especially off the back of the surprise loss to New Zealand.

Gone are the days of Ravi Shastri, the coach who led two winning tours, and his successor Rahul Dravid.

Gautam Gambhir had a crack at Ricky Ponting. Getty

Unlike his predecessors, Gambhir is know to be a feisty character with strong opinions and Ponting believes that might bleed into the team if things aren’t going well.

“Let’s not forget this little prickly thing that happened between him and I was off the back of them losing that series 3-0,” Ponting told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“Straight away he would’ve had his defences up, [and] then I say something that didn’t thrill him that much, but you’d expect it to be that way when you understand his character.

“If he’s under pressure, if India aren’t playing well during the summer, and he feels a bit under pressure, I think a lot of his responses will be a little bit similar to the way he was the other day.”

Another former Australian skipper, Tim Paine, echoed Ponting’s sentiments, adding Gambhir might not be a good fit for the current Indian side.

“[In] their last two series wins out here they had Ravi Shastri who was fantastic,” Paine told SEN Radio this week.

“He created a great environment, the players were energised, they played with passion, he sold them the dream and motivated them in a really light-hearted enjoyable way.

“They have gone to a new coach now that is really prickly, really competitive – and that not to say that’s not a good thing and a good way to coach – but my concern is that it’s not a great fit for the Indian cricket team.

“If your coach is the first one to crack in a press conference after being asked a simple question, it could be a really long summer for Gautam Gambhir if India don’t get off to a good start on Perth.”

Hussein also highlighted the major differences between the past mentors and their current coach.

“Dravid was calm from outside but tough from inside. On the other hand, Gambhir is angry on the outside and calm in the dressing room,” Hussein said.

“It is a complete flip. Gambhir was wrong to target Ponting. He was asked to comment on Virat and now Gambhir has told him to speak only on Australian cricket.

“That will be tough for a cricket expert in the India-Australia Test series.”