Xtra Time Web Desk: India head coach Gautam Gambhir has defended senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in strong words after criticism from the former Australia captain Ricky Ponting. He also hit back to Ricky Ponting asking about his business with Indian cricket and also advised him to focus on Australian Cricket!

Earlier Ponting commented on Kohli's form saying that any other player wouldn't have survived in the team with having just two hundreds in five years. When Gambhir has been asked, he replied in a strong tone and also reminded about Kohli and Rohit's passion and hunger to do well for the team. 

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Gambhir stated in the press conference, "What does Ponting to has to do with Indian cricket? I think he should think about Australian cricket and more importantly have got no concerns whatsoever for Virat and Rohit. I think they are incredibly tough men. They've achieved a lot for Indian cricket and they will continue to achieve a lot in future as well. I think for me, the most important thing is that they still work really hard and they still passionate, they still want to achieve a lot more and that is something which is very important. The hunger in that dressing room is incredibly important for me. And for the entire group of people as well in that dressing in dressing rooms. And I feel there is a lot of hunger and especially after what has happened in the last series."

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Although Rohit and Kohli both seemed to be out of touch in the ongoing season still Gambhir's statement makes fans hopeful. Rohit has scored just 588 runs from 11 matches in the ongoing year at an average of 29.40 with two centuries and as many fifties to his name. On the other hand, Kohli has scored 250 runs from six matches (12 innings) at an average of 22.72 with just one half century. So definitely the poor form of two senior batters is a concern for India.

Keeping all the criticism aside, will this team bounce back? Will Kohli be able to answer one more time? All eyes are on that only!