"You'd expect it to be that way when you understand his character" - Ricky Ponting doubles down on his Gautam Gambhir take ahead of BGT 2024-25

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has continued his exchange with India head coach Gautam Gambhir after the duo had a recent back-and-forth ahead of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India and Australia will battle over five Tests, starting in Perth on Friday, November 22.

In the build-up to the marquee series, Ponting was asked about ace batter Virat Kohli's concerning Test form. He responded saying any other batter with only two Test centuries in the last five years would have struggled to hold his place in the team.

Gambhir did not take too kindly to Ponting's remarks and asked him to focus only on Australian cricket before leaving for Australia. The former Australian captain hit back at the Indian coach by saying such responses were characteristic of Gambhir's 'prickly' nature.

Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, Ponting doubled down on his initial response and said Gambhir's responses could get increasingly 'prickly' should India struggle in Australia.

"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. Straight away he would've had his defenses 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," Ponting said (via nine.com.au).

He added:

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"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."

Gambhir's Team India coaching tenure has begun on rocky roads, with the side losing two of their four bilateral series. This includes a 0-3 home Test series whitewash at the hands of New Zealand recently.

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"Gambhir was wrong to target Ponting" - Nasser Hussain

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Hussain supported his former Ashes rival in the exchange with Gambhir [Credit: Getty]

Former England captain Nasser Hussain also weighed in on the Ricky Ponting-Gautam Gambhir war of words, taking the side of the former for his comments on Virat Kohli.

Hussain further highlighted the stark difference between India's former coach Rahul Dravid and Gambhir.

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"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. 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," Hussain said (via nine.com.au).

Ponting and Gambhir have endured their differences before when the former Indian batter elbowed Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson in the 2008 Test series and was suspended for a match with Ponting as the Australian captain.

The duo also worked briefly in the 2018 IPL when Gambhir started as the Delhi Capitals captain before relinquishing the position in Ponting's first season as the franchise's head coach.

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