Ricky Ponting addressed ‘prickly’ handshake drama before First Test

Ricky Ponting has shared his surprise as he addressed a sensitive subject ahead the First Test between Australia and India.

Ricky Ponting has addressed the sensitive issue that surrounds the future of Virat Kohli.

The Aussie Test icon caused a storm earlier this month when Indian coach Gautam Gambhir bristled at the Tasmanian’s comments about the out-of-form batter.

Gambhir surprised many when he spat back at Ponting, setting the scene for a fiery First Test in Perth, beginning from Friday afternoon.

Ponting has now had his return of serve, saying he does not hold any “grudge” against 36-year-old Kohli or Gambhir.

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Speaking on a Channel 7 preview show, Ponting’s co-host Mel McLaughlin described the issue by saying: “Gautam Gambhir he’s not very happy with you. We talked about extra spice and this one getting a little bit prickly, you might have had something to do with that”.

The former top-order batsman responded: “I was just asked the question if I was concerned with Virat Kohli’s output over the last couple of years and it was funny, because it was only the day before that I read some stats on what Virat hasn’t been able to do probably in the last couple of years.

“He’s made two Test match hundreds I think in his last 60 Test match innings so anybody, Virat himself, would be concerned by his output, because he’s a better player than that and he has been for such a long period of time.

India coach Gautam Gambhir bristled at Ponting’s comments.

“But I backed it up by saying he loves playing in Australia. He has a great record here. If there is a time for Virat to turn it around, it’d be now.

“I think the reaction from Gambhir probably surprised everybody. It surprised a lot of people in India as well.”

The world-cup winning former captain was asked point blank if he will shake hands with “him”. It is not clear if McLaughlin was referring to Gambhir or Kohli.

“Yeah I do. I don’t hold a grudge or anything like that,” he said.

“It’ll be up to him. If he holds a grudge from what I had to say there then I’m sure he’s probably heard worse things in the past. He’ll probably hear some worse things as the summer goes on. Especially if his team doesn’t win.

India's Virat Kohli is under pressure to score runs. (Photo by IDREES MOHAMMED / AFP)

“I’ve got no issue with him. I think it’s guaranteed we’ll bump into each other on Friday morning and we’ll see how awkward it might be.”

Kohli’s average in Test cricket over the past three years has dipped significantly, but he has posted six centuries in his 13 Test innings in Australia.

Gambhir said he had “no concerns for his superstar batsman.

“What does Ponting have to do with Indian cricket? He should be talking about Australia,” Gambhir said in his farewell press conference.

Gambhir said the Indian team as a whole were eager to prove themselves after the New Zealand defeat, only their second Test series whitewash at home.

“I feel there is a lot of hunger, especially after what has happened in the last series,” he said.

Ponting said it wasn’t a dig at Kohli. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

Explaining his comments, Ponting said they weren’t meant as a personal attack on Kohli.

“I was surprised to read the reaction but knowing the coach, Gautam Gambhir ... he’s quite a prickly character, so I’m not surprised it was him who said something back,” Ponting told 7News.

“I said I would be concerned (about Kohli’s form).

“But I think if you ask Virat, I’m sure Virat would be a little bit concerned that he hasn’t been able to make the same amount of hundreds as he has in previous years.

“In no way was it a dig at him. I actually followed it up by saying he’s played well in Australia and he’ll be keen to bounce back over here.

“So, it’s amazing how little things can get cut up, but he’s a class player and he’s played well in Australia in the past.”

Ponting added he had “a bit of history” with Gambhir after coming up against him in the Indian Premier League.

Gambhir believes the biggest challenge in Australia will be the quicker pitches compared to India, where conditions are traditionally spin-friendly.

— With AFP