Published 12:18 IST, June 22nd 2024
'You haven’t set world on fire': Gautam Gambhir shares AMAZING sledging incident with Ricky Ponting
Gautam Gambhir reminisces a remarkable sledging moment with Ricky Ponting, where Gambhir's response to Ponting's comment was memorable.
- SportFit
- 3 min read
With Rahul Dravid's term as Team India's head coach coming to an end shortly, the BCCI is searching for a qualified coach to take over as head coach. There have been many rumours that Gautam Gambhir will take over, and in the midst of all of this confusion, the KKR mentor recently led his franchise to glory in IPL 2024 and it is anticipated that he will be the new Indian Cricket Team coach after the T20 World Cup.
Gautam Gambhir recalls Ricky Ponting’s sledging during India vs Australia in 2008
The 2008 Border Gavaskar Trophy incident involving Australian cricket great Ricky Ponting was brought up by former Indian cricket player Gautam Gambhir in a recent Forbes India interview. After only playing one Test match in 2004, it was Gambhir's first complete series against Australia. Ponting attacked the rookie Test batter even though he had just one century to his credit going into the series. But Gambhir answered forcefully, scoring 463 runs at an astounding average of over 77 in three of the four games of the series.
In the Forbes India interview, Gambhir offered his thoughts on the most amusing sledge he has ever seen. Gautam 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."
Gautam Gambhir's remarkable achievement of scoring a century and a double century in two straight games was vital in India's 2-0 series win. Ricky Ponting had to contend with another difficult tour of India at the same time, scoring just 266 runs at an average of 38 over four Test matches.
Thinking back on their meetings, Gambhir previously revealed how he repelled Ponting's attacks by bringing up the Australian's poor Test record in India. Even with his remarkable career totals of over 13,000 runs at an average of 51.85 with 41 centuries, Ponting clearly struggled in India. Ponting's average from 14 Tests played in the nation was just 26.48, with one century. Speaking on Star Sports' Cricket Connected show, Gautam Gambhir 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,"
Updated 12:18 IST, June 22nd 2024