The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals have parted ways with their coach and former Australia captain Ricky Ponting.
While the Capitals performed much better under his tenure as the head coach, Ponting still leaves the franchise failing to win the title over the seven years.
“The top brass of Delhi Capitals has intimated to Ricky that they aren't happy that the team didn't win a championship in seven years and they are trying to look at rejigging the support staff. He won't be continuing next year,” a source close to DC management told PTI
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Delhi capitals part ways with Ricky Ponting
The IPL franchise announced Ricky Ponting's departure on their social media handle on X (formerly Twitter), saying:
"Dear Ricky, as you move on as our Head Coach, we find it incredibly hard to put this down in words. The four things you told us about in every huddle - care, commitment, attitude and effort - they sum up our seven summers together," the franchise posted.
"Seven summers of you being hands-on, but also hands-off, so that we could become better. As athletes, yes, but more importantly, as human beings. Seven summers of you reaching every training session first and leaving last. Seven summers of you sprinting out of the dugouts during strategic timeouts and biting your nails off unless there were none left. Seven summers of your dressing room speeches, seven summers of your hugs, shoulder pats and fist pumps for us - newcomers, superstar... and everyone in between."
The Capitals thanked Ponting for all his efforts and contributions to the franchise, during his time as the head coach.
"Thank you for everything, coach! Like you often close out, 'Let's leave this here, let's grab a beer, get back to work tomorrow, yeah?'"
The franchise is yet to announce his successor for the post of head coach.
Will Sourav Ganguly become the new head coach of Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2025?
Former India captain, Sourav Ganguly, who is currently the team director at Delhi Capitals and alongside Ricky Ponting during the latter's tenure as head coach of the franchise, has dropped a major hint.
Following the announcement of his Australian counterpart's departure, Ganguly told Bengali newspaper Aajkaal that the reason Ponting was dismissed, was because he had no results to show.
Further, the former Indian captain hinted about the possible replacement of Ponting at the Delhi Capitals and added that he wants to see the Delhi Capitals win IPL 2025.
"I have to plan for next year’s IPL. I want to win the IPL for the Delhi Capitals once. The mega auction is next year, and hence I have started planning from now on. Let me break the news. Ricky Ponting will not be the head coach of the Delhi Capitals. Geoffery Boycott was right, as Ponting has not been able to take the franchise forward in the past 7 years. I have to speak with the franchise and ask them to look at Indian coaches. I will be the head coach. Let’s see how I perform,” Ganguly had said.
It is worth noting that Ganguly has a great record of laying foundations at every team that he has been a part of. As the captain of the Indian team, he played a crucial role in the country's transition to the leadership of MS Dhoni.
Further, as Kolkata Knight Riders captain, he created the right conditions for the franchise before Gautam Gambhir took over, who then went on to win two IPL titles.
As the BCCI President, he was instrumental in making key and radical changes which brought success to the team later on, including the appointment of now-World Cup winner Rohit Sharma as the captain of the national team.
Rahul Dravid - another possible candidate as head coach at Delhi Capitals?
Ganguly had mentioned that he would be talking to the management and convincing them to appoint Indian coaches. If that is the case, there can be no better candidate than former Indian captain, Rahul Dravid.
Dravid, who was also the previous head coach of the Indian cricket team, under who they won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, is available to take up another job following the completion of his tenure at the end of the World Cup.
He delivered success as head coach of the national side, as the team ended their decade-long drought of ICC trophies.
If appointed as Capitals' head coach, Dravid will bring tons of experience to the squad while also nurturing the young talents. Moreover, he has previously worked as the mentor of the Delhi franchise (then Delhi Daredevils) for two seasons between 2016-17.
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