Cricket
I finished as highest run-scorer
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Former Indian batter Gautam Gambhir revealed the funniest sledge he faced against the Australians, and it was none other than legendary Ricky Ponting, with whom he enjoyed the on-field banter most.
Notably, Gambhir has been touted as the next head coach of the Indian cricket team after the current coach Rahul Dravid’s tenure ends with the conclusion of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies.
Gautam Gambhir shares funniest sledge from Ricky Ponting
Amidst the buzz of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor taking over as India’s head coach, Gambhir revealed the funniest sledge he had to encounter during his debut Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia at home. In the video shared by KKR Vibe on X, he made these revelations.
Well, the aggressive left-handed batter has always been known for wearing his heart on the sleeve and often engaging in verbal spats with opposition players. In a famous incident, Gambhir clashed with then-Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi during an ODI match against Pakistan in Kanpur in 2007.
Gambhir faced controversy again when he was accused of elbowing then-Australian all-rounder Shane Watson during a Test match in Delhi in 2008. His aggressive demeanor was also evident in the IPL 2013, where he exchanged heated words with Virat Kohli during a match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
You haven’t set the world on fire: Ricky Ponting to Gautam Gambhir
Apart from these famous incidents, Gambhir famously exchanged sledges with Ricky Ponting during the 2008 Test series in India after the former Australian captain tried to get under his skin during the first Test match between the two teams in Bengaluru.
When he was asked about the best or the funniest sledge he had ever heard on the field during an insertion with Forbes India, Gambhir said: “The funniest sledge was when I was playing my first Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Bangalore. Ricky Pointing said something when I was batting. He was at a silly point, and he said, ‘You haven’t set the world on fire’ or something like that. I had finished the series as the highest run-scorer.”
Watch Here:
🎙️Gautam Gambhir : “Ricky Ponting once sledged me, saying – You haven’t set the world on fire. Then I ended up becoming the Man of the Series in that BGT.” pic.twitter.com/suGYa9qxx4
— KKR Vibe (@KnightsVibe) June 20, 2024
Earlier, speaking on Star Sports’ chat show Cricket Connected, Gambhir recalled that when Ponting provoked him, he had also shown him his record in India. He had said: “He was at silly point, and he said ‘you haven’t set the world on fire’. I said ‘Neither have you in India. To be honest, you have been a bunny’. His record says that as well, he’s been a bunny in India.”
Notably, Ponting doesn’t have an impressive record in India in Test cricket, as he could manage only 662 runs at an average of 26.48, including a single century in 14 matches. In ODIs, his record is slightly better, amassing 1,736 runs at an average of 39.45, with the help of 5 centuries in 46 matches. On the other hand, Gambhir had finished that Test series with 450+ runs against Australia.
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