In a significant move following a disappointing season, Delhi Capitals have parted ways with head coach Ricky Ponting after failing to qualify for the playoffs of IPL 2024. Ponting, who has been with the team since 2018, led them to the finals in IPL 2020 but has faced more challenges than triumphs in recent years.
Under Ponting’s guidance, Delhi Capitals saw a mix of highs and lows. In the 2020 season, they reached the finals but were defeated by Mumbai Indians. The following year, they topped the points table but lost to Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 1 and then to Kolkata Knight Riders in the Eliminator. However, since the mega auction in 2022, Delhi Capitals have struggled to break into the top four, prompting the franchise to make a tough decision regarding Ponting’s future.
In an exclusive chat with CNBC-TV18, Parth Jindal, co-owner of Delhi Capitals, expressed his delight with the team’s core players but highlighted the need for a full-time coaching setup. “There is going to be a meet where we actually give our views to the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) on the retention and release rules for the mega-auction. We have a great core of players at the Delhi Capitals. If you look at the likes of Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Tristan Stubbs, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, there is a very good core that we have,” Jindal stated.
He further elaborated on the rationale behind the decision to part ways with Ponting, emphasizing the need for a coach who can be available full-time. “The coaching set-up that one needs to have, has to be full-time. They have to be available in the country, in the city at any given point in time. That is the sole reason why we have made this change,” Jindal added.
This move also indicates Delhi Capitals’ potential plan to hire an Indian coach who will be available throughout the year. Sourav Ganguly, the Director of Cricket for Delhi Capitals, has already shown interest in taking up the role of head coach, but the franchise has yet to make a final decision.
As the team gears up for the next season, the focus will be on building a stronger, more consistent coaching structure to complement their talented roster and strive for better results in future IPL campaigns.
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