Gambhir is prickly character, never took dig at Kohli: Ponting
Melbourne, Nov 13: Responding to Gautam Gambhir's jibe at him, former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting on Wednesday said the India head coach was a "prickly character" and insisted that his comments on Virat Kohli should not be construed as a dig on the star batter, who himself would be worried about his prolonged lean patch.
Ponting, in an interview to ICC, had said that Kohli's poor form would be a concern and any other international player would have struggle to keep his spot in the Test side with just two hundreds in five years.
He though had also spoken highly of Kohli's ability to bounce back.
Gambhir, when asked about Ponting's comments, said the Australian legend needn't be concerned about Indian cricket.
"I was surprised to read the reaction but knowing the coach, Gautam Gambhir ... he's quite a prickly character, so I’m not surprised it was him who said something back," Ponting told 7News when asked about Gambhir's comments.
"If he comes my way, yeah. I don't expect him to. We have got quite a bit of history, against each other. I have actually coached him at Delhi Capitals and he is quite a prickly character," Ponting said in jest when the anchor asked if he would shake hands with Gambhir if they cross path.
One of the greatest batters of his time, Ponting then explained what he meant and felt that things were taken out of context.
"In no way was it a dig at him (Kohli). I actually followed it up by saying he's played well in Australia and he'll be keen to bounce back over here...If you ask Virat, I'm sure he would be a little bit concerned that he hasn't been able to make the same amount of hundreds as he has in previous years," he said.
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Karnataka to appoint DGP-rank officer for cybercrime investigations amid rising cases
Bengaluru: Karnataka is set to become the first Indian state to appoint a Director General of Police (DGP) to oversee cybercrime investigations, Home Minister G Parameshwara announced. The decision follows a proposal submitted by the Karnataka police, which the state government has accepted. This DGP will head the Cyber Economics and Narcotics (CEN) crime wing, which will be separated from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to create a dedicated unit.
The state already has four DGPs overseeing various departments, including the CID, Fire and Emergency Services, and Prisons. This new role will add a fifth DGP position focused exclusively on cybercrime, with an Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) and Inspector General of Police (IGP) supporting the DGP. Additionally, seven Superintendents of Police (SPs) will manage cybercrime investigations across the state's regions.
Cybercrime rates in Karnataka have surged dramatically, with Bengaluru alone losing Rs 1,242.7 crore to cyber-related offences in just the first eight months of this year, surpassing losses recorded over the past three years combined. Bengaluru has also reported 12,356 cybercrimes through August, following 17,633 cases in 2023.
Highlighting the diversity of cybercrimes, Parameshwara noted these go beyond financial fraud to include fake news, harassment, and data theft. He emphasised the need for specialised expertise and senior oversight to tackle such crimes effectively.
The CEN wing's independence aims to enhance coordination among police units, both within Karnataka and with other states, by establishing a dedicated channel for inter-agency communication.
