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Former Indian batter Gautam Gambhir recalled Australian legend Ricky Ponting sledging him during the 2008 Border Gavaskar Trophy and his response by finishing as the leading run-scorer in the series. Despite slowly establishing himself as India's Test opener, it was Gambhir's first full series against Australia after playing only the lone Test in 2004.
Gambhir scored only one century entering the series, prompting Ponting to have a go at a still-young Test batter. However, Gambhir responded by finishing as the highest run-getter with 463 runs at an average of over 77 despite playing in only three of the four games.
In a recent interview with Forbes India, Gambir was asked the funniest sledge he encountered to which he responded:
"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."
Gambhir scored a century and a double century in back-to-back games, helping India register a 2-0 series win.
Meanwhile, Ponting endured another difficult tour of India, scoring only 266 runs at an average of 38 in the four Tests.
"He’s been a bunny in India" - Gautam Gambhir
In an earlier interview, Gautam Gambhir had mentioned how he responded to Ricky Ponting's sledge by pointing to his woeful Test record in India.
Despite boasting incredible overall Test numbers with over 13,000 runs at an average of 51.85 and 41 centuries, the former Aussie skipper struggled massively in India. Ponting averaged a mere 26.48 with only one century in 14 Tests in India.
"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," said Gambhir on Star Sports' Cricket Connected show.
Gambhir and Ponting dueled in several closely-fought India-Australia Tests in the late 2000s and the early 2010s.
The duo were part of the recently-concluded IPL, with Gambhir the Kolkata Knight Riders mentor, and Ponting the Delhi Capitals head coach.
