Kaif Reveals Ganguly’s Clash with Ponting Over IPL Strategies

Mohammad Kaif highlights Sourav Ganguly’s strategic brilliance during Delhi Capitals’ IPL campaign, contrasting it with Ricky Ponting's shortcomings in team building and auction strategies.

Sourav Ganguly’s Strategic Genius

Mohammad Kaif lauded Sourav Ganguly's strategic mindset, which proved pivotal during Delhi Capitals’ 2020 IPL campaign.

Ganguly’s vision of building an Indian core reshaped Delhi’s team dynamics. 

His insistence on trading Shikhar Dhawan from Sunrisers Hyderabad showcased his tactical brilliance. 

Despite Ricky Ponting’s doubts, Ganguly emphasised Dhawan’s IPL numbers and consistency as a match-winner. 

“I think Ponting would himself admit he could have done better because the team we made, me, Ganguly...you won't believe there were times we could think whom should we drop. There was no place for Ajinkya Rahane, Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, even Hetmyer. Then when we went to the auction...this was Ganguly who decided and I must praise him for that. He said we have to back the Indian players. He talked to Shikhar Dhawan, after which that trade had happened with Hyderabad,” Kaif said.

“Now we were stuck still thinking if we should make the trade, and it was Ganguly who convinced us that we needed him. Ponting did not agree. He felt his career was over, because it was right when he was dropped from the Test team. In fact, this thing was highlighted in the meeting that Dhawan is a trusted player who can score 500 runs in a season. David Warner was in Hyderabad, and I feel he must have influenced Ponting against going with Dhawan. I feel he must have told Ponting that he no longer remains a great player. But Ganguly and Parth Jindal backed Dhawan and traded him, and the India batter proved us right because we had reached the final that season where he scored a lot of runs. So I feel Ponting might have regretted that he would have done better because they did not win a trophy in those seven years. In fact, Ganguly should be credited for bringing Ashwin to the team as well.”

Ganguly’s gamble paid off when Dhawan delivered 521 runs in 2019 and 618 in 2020, driving Delhi to the final. 

Ganguly’s influence also brought Ashwin into the squad, further strengthening Delhi’s foundation.

Ponting’s Coaching Philosophy Under Scrutiny

Kaif critiqued Ricky Ponting’s coaching methods, emphasising his failure to adapt strategies during his tenure with Delhi Capitals. 

“The franchise owner must have felt Ponting no longer had good game plans. Now, Ponting is a huge name. He is in that Sachin Tendulkar category. Now, if a franchise tells him 'thank you so much' and parts ways, that means they feel that he is looking flat with his game plans.”

Ponting’s reluctance to back Dhawan due to perceived career decline highlighted a lack of foresight. 

Kaif speculated Ponting might have been influenced by compatriot David Warner, then Dhawan’s SRH teammate. 

Rishabh Pant Confirms Departure from Delhi Capitals Not Due to Money Dispute

Additionally, Kaif criticised Ponting’s approach at Punjab Kings, stating it mirrored previous coaches’ flawed auction strategies. 

“Now, he went to Punjab, and he followed the same tactic as the old coaches, retaining a few players and keeping a bigger purse. I felt they were wrong. Look at the Mumbai Indians. Despite finishing last, they retained their core players because they believed that they could still win a title. They backed the same players irrespective of their value. What Ponting did is the same as previous PBKS coaches and I'm not a fan of that. They could have retained Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada and Liam Livingstone. See, there is no guarantee that a franchise can retain the same player at an auction for a lesser price,” he said.

Retaining a bigger purse over trusting proven players like Arshdeep Singh and Kagiso Rabada highlighted Ponting’s strategic shortcomings.

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