Virat Kohli is the first India batter to reach Australia as the former India captain landed in Perth on Sunday evening. Kohli travelled before the first batch of players, who left from Mumbai on November 10.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has backed senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli amid their poor form and said that Ricky Ponting should only focus on Australian cricket.

The much-awaited series against Pat Cummins' Australia will commence in Perth on November 22 and ace India batter Virat Kohli, as always, will be a vital cog in India's scheme of things if they are to retain the prestigious trophy.

Gautam Gambhir has not taken Ricky Ponting's criticism of Virat Kohli lightly, questioning the former Australian captain's credentials to raise fingers at something that isn't his to worry about. Gambhir,

Ponting recently commented on Kohli's form saying that any other player wouldn't have survived in the team had he scored just two hundreds in five years.

Ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, Indian cricket coach Gautam Gambhir dismissed Ricky Ponting's criticism of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's recent form. Gambhir emphasized the importance of the team's hunger for success over external commentary.