"He’s paid to give an opinion" - Tim Paine defends Ricky Ponting over standoff with Gautam Gambhir ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

Former Australia captain Tim Paine believes Team India coach Gautam Gambhir overreacted to Ricky Ponting's comments over Virat Kohli's dipping returns. Paine reckons the biggest concern for India is the coach's inability to stay calm under pressure.

With Ponting opining during an episode of the ICC Review that any player other than Kohli wouldn't have been playing Tests after scoring only two centuries in the last five years, Gambhir wasn't impressed. During a pre-departure presser, the former opener hit back, saying Ponting shouldn't have anything to do with Indian cricket.

Speaking to SEN Tassie, Paine said Gambhir sees Ponting more as an opponent than a commentator. The 39-year-old defended his fellow countryman, saying Ponting is paid to give an opinion.

"I don’t love it. I think he’s maybe looking at Ricky still as someone he’s playing against, but Ricky is a commentator now - he’s paid to give an opinion, and his opinion was spot on. Virat has been sliding, it is a concern, absolutely. But for me now, the biggest concern for India right now isn’t Rohit Sharma’s batting, isn’t Virat Kohli’s batting, it’s their coach and his ability to stay calm under pressure."

Kohli's form has indeed been pointed out by many as concerning, especially after the recent home series against New Zealand. Contrary to expectations, the 36-year-old only managed 93 runs in six innings with a solitary fifty-plus score.

"Their last two series wins out here, they had Ravi Shastri who was fantastic" - Tim Paine

Tim Paine. (Image Credits: Getty)

Paine hailed ex-India coach Ravi Shastri for fostering a great team environment and making it relaxing for the players, unlike the utterly competitive nature at present. He remarked in the same interview:

“Their last two series wins out here they had Ravi Shastri who was fantastic. 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. 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."

Team India have held the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since the 2014-15 series.