Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has taken a huge jibe at Virat Kohli ahead of the upcoming Border Gavaskar series. India’s former skipper heads to Australia on the back of poor form with the bat during the home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand.
Ponting, during his chat with ICC Review, said, “I saw a stat the other day about Virat, it said he's only scored two Test hundreds in the last five years. That didn't seem right to me, but if that is right, then that is, I mean, that's a concern”.
Team India will leave in two batches to Australia on the 10th and 11th of November. It is a huge series for Rohit Sharma and his side to keep their WTC final qualification hopes alive. Virat Kohli in particular will be itching to get back to form in a country where he enjoys good numbers with the bat.
Ricky Ponting takes jibe at Virat Kohli ahead of Australia tour
The former Australian skipper added, “There wouldn't be anyone else probably even playing international cricket as a top-order batsman that's only scored two Test match hundreds in five years."
During the last tour of Australia, Kohli played the first game in Adelaide where he scored 74. Post that match which saw India get all out for 36, India then headed home for the birth of his first child. India went on to win the series despite the huge loss in the opening game of the series.
Ponting also said, “I've said it before about Virat, you don't ever question the greats of the game. There's no doubt, he's a great of the game”. Kohli’s only fifty in the Test format came during the first game against New Zealand in Bengaluru.
“He loves playing against Australia. In fact, I know he loves playing against Australia. And as I said, his record (in Australia) is very good. If there's a time for him to turn it around, it'd be this series. So I wouldn't be surprised to see Virat make runs in the first game," further added Ricky Ponting.
When asked about India’s Test loss to New Zealand at home, Ponting said “I think the one thing it does probably say is it’s really starting to highlight India's vulnerability against good quality spin bowling”