Ricky Ponting Fires Back At Gautam Gambhir After India Coach's Press Conference Remarks

The start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia is still a few days away but a war seems to have begun between Gautam Gambhir and Ricky Ponting. The India head coach didn't take Ponting's comments on under-fire Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma well, suggesting the former Australia skipper to stick to his own team. Now, Ponting too has shared his reaction on the comments made by Gambhir in the press conference ahead of the team's flight to Australia, calling the India head coach a 'prickly character'.

"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 said on 7News.

Ponting also clarified that his comments on Virat weren't meant as an insult or criticism by any means. The Australia legend feels the India star will regain his lost form and deliver Down Under, a region where he has done well previously as well.

"In no way was it a dig at him (Kohli). I actually followed it up by saying he's played well in Australia and he'll be keen to bounce back over here...If you ask Virat, I'm sure he 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," he said.

Ricky Ponting has stood by his comments about Virat Kohli that lit the fuse for an explosive Indian summer. The former Aussie captain's concerns about King Kohli's recent test record were met with a stinging response from India's combative coach Gautam Gambhir. #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/vzBrRcbcXo

"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."

Gambhir was informed of Ponting's comments by a