Cricket

Ishant Sharma and Ricky Ponting: A Bond Beyond Coach and PlayerFollowing Delhi Capitals' (DC) crucial victory against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), pacer Ishant Sharma expressed his deep admiration for head coach Ricky Ponting, describing him as an elder brother. Sharma's stellar performance, with figures of 3/34, played a pivotal role in DC's 19-run triumph, keeping their playoff hopes alive.Sharma's bond with Ponting extends beyond the coach-player relationship. "He's always there whenever I need him, I can call him anytime," said Sharma. "It's very great to have him as a coach. He pushes you to try new things and not be afraid if you don't do well."Ponting reciprocated the sentiment, acknowledging their fierce rivalry on the field in the past. "It's been a pleasure to coach and work with him," said Ponting. "He's a great guy, and we've become very close. We've got great respect for one another."Sharma's leadership has been instrumental in DC's bowling attack over the past few years. With 14 points in 14 matches, DC currently sits fifth in the points table, awaiting the outcome of remaining matches to determine their playoff fate.

The Indian cricket team's head coach position is up for grabs as Rahul Dravid's tenure concludes in June. With no clear indication of VVS Laxman's interest, the BCCI is exploring alternatives, including seasoned foreign coaches.Sources reveal that Stephen Fleming and Ricky Ponting have been informally approached, but their response has been lukewarm due to the year-round commitment required. Despite their extensive knowledge of Indian cricket through IPL stints, the prospect of a full-time role may deter them.Historically, India has had success with foreign coaches like John Wright and Gary Kirsten, who oversaw Test series victories abroad and a World Cup triumph. However, the preference shifted towards Indian coaches after an unsuccessful stint with Duncan Fletcher.Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli's partnership witnessed remarkable Test successes, but they failed to clinch an ICC trophy. Dravid and Rohit Sharma's partnership has also been commendable, but the quest for an ICC title remains unfulfilled.The upcoming coach's tenure, from July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2027, will face challenges like the Test series in Australia and the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. With the application deadline set for May 27, the BCCI is expected to make a decision soon, with foreign candidates emerging as the frontrunners.

Ricky Ponting, the head coach of Delhi Capitals and former Australian captain, believes that high-scoring games will remain a norm in the Indian Premier League (IPL) even if the controversial 'Impact Player' rule is discontinued. The rule allows teams to replace one of the original XI announced at the toss at any point during the match.Ponting's comments come amidst a debate about the rule, with some like India captain Rohit Sharma criticizing it for limiting the opportunities for all-rounders. However, others like Sourav Ganguly have praised it as an innovative addition."There is a talk if the impact player remains in the IPL, if it doesn't, will the scores come down again? I am interested to see that. I am not sure they will," Ponting said.He explained that the rule provides a cushion for top-order batters, but they are already accustomed to playing aggressively. "The guys at the top are so used to going out and playing a certain way," he said.This season, the 200-run mark has been breached 36 times in the IPL, compared to 37 in the previous edition. BCCI secretary Jay Shah has indicated that the rule could be reconsidered based on feedback from stakeholders.Ponting also highlighted the challenges of coaching a franchise team, which he believes is more difficult than coaching a national team. He cited the diverse nationalities involved and the limited time available to build team culture."It's really hard to do that, it is also hard to make big skill changes in such a short period of time," he said.Ponting also discussed the evolution of the game in recent years, noting that the space for batters with "classical technique" is shrinking. He pointed to England's aggressive approach and the rise of players who have grown up playing limited-overs cricket."There still is room for purist batsmen in Test match cricket, but that's going to be less and less," he said.Ponting identified Virat Kohli and Joe Root as among the few top batters with a classical technique. "In the last 10 years there is not a lot of classical technique in the modern day batters," he said.

Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting has expressed confidence in Axar Patel's ability to lead the team in the absence of suspended captain Rishabh Pant. Pant was banned for one match after an altercation with Mumbai Indians' Suryakumar Yadav during their previous encounter.Ponting praised Patel's experience and understanding of the game, saying, "He has been vice-captain for the last couple of seasons and he is very sensible and understands the game really well."The coach also acknowledged the challenge of replacing Pant, who has been Delhi's best batter this season. However, he believes the team has the depth to overcome his absence."Rishabh has been one of the best players this IPL and not having him is a loss. But it is also a great opportunity for others," Ponting said.David Warner, who has missed the last four matches due to injury, is expected to be available for selection. Ponting expressed optimism about his return, saying, "David Warner has trained really strongly. We hope he is available for selection."The Delhi Capitals will face the Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 11 in Bengaluru. The match will be a crucial test for Patel's leadership and the team's ability to adapt without Pant.

Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting has heaped praise on Abishek Porel, the left-handed batter who has impressed in multiple roles during IPL 2024. Ponting has indicated that Porel will don the keeping gloves against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Sunday in the absence of the suspended Rishabh Pant.Porel, signed by Capitals in 2023 as a replacement for Pant, has scored 267 runs in 10 innings this season at a strike rate of 157.98. He began the campaign batting at No. 9 against Punjab Kings, coming in as an Impact Player and smacking an unbeaten 31 off just 10 balls. Since then, he has been promoted to a top-four role, and in DC's last game against Rajasthan Royals, he opened the batting and put on 60 in just 4.2 overs with Jake Fraser-McGurk. Porel went on to score 65 off 36, his first IPL half-century, studded with seven fours and three sixes."I've seen extreme growth in Abishek Porel in this IPL," Ponting said in Bengaluru ahead of the match against RCB. "He's a very special talent. He's starting to work out what IPL cricket is all about. He's had a couple of different roles as well. He's made [31] off 10 balls as a No. 9 batsman, and now we see him opening the batting and he's got better and better every game.""I've got huge raps on him. I think he's a very, very good young player, obviously we'll probably get to see him with the keeping gloves on tomorrow as well, with Rishabh not being there. And then we'll work out, when we finalise our team, with the batting order and stuff, but I'll be surprised if he's not at the top of the order again, because he has played really well, and he's someone that I think has got a really bright future."Ponting also hailed Jake Fraser-McGurk, the swashbuckling 22-year-old batter who has taken this IPL by storm. Fraser-McGurk, picked by DC as a replacement player after Lungi Ngidi was ruled out, has reset the T20 batting template in the powerplay, just like Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma have while batting for Sunrisers Hyderabad this season. Fraser-McGurk has scored his 309 runs while striking at 235.87 and averaging 44.14, with the help of four half-centuries."Some of the things he's done - I think he's made three 20-ball fifties in this tournament, so he along with Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma have been the stand-out powerplay batsmen in this entire tournament," Ponting said. "He's focused now, like all of us, he's making sure that we're ready to go tomorrow. For us, it's not about what happened yesterday, it's about what we can do today to get better, and then make sure that we're ready to play our best game of cricket tomorrow."

Rising star Jake Fraser-McGurk has expressed his understanding of his omission from Australia's T20 World Cup squad, acknowledging that he had not yet earned a place in the final 15-man roster.Despite his impressive performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he smashed two 15-ball half-centuries, Fraser-McGurk was not selected for the World Cup. He admitted that the selectors had a clear plan and that he was not yet in a position to challenge the established players in the team."The communication was really good," Fraser-McGurk said. "They probably had a good idea of what [the squad] was a month and a half ago, trying to build that and get the connection in the team."Fraser-McGurk praised the selectors' decision to prioritize experienced players who provide flexibility in team combinations. He highlighted the presence of David Warner, Travis Head, and Mitch Marsh as key factors in his non-selection."I can't really see myself batting five or six because we're pretty set there with Tim David, Cam Green, and those sort of blokes," he said. "That's the way I think about it. That's fine."Fraser-McGurk expressed his gratitude for the support he has received from Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting, who has provided him with valuable batting advice. Ponting's guidance has helped Fraser-McGurk improve his technique and swing at the ball with greater control."What he said to me that's really stuck with me is 'you hit the ball a lot further when you swing at 80% instead of 100%, you just have to find the middle and then it'll go for six,'" Fraser-McGurk said.Despite his disappointment at missing out on the World Cup, Fraser-McGurk remains optimistic about his future prospects. He hopes to gain experience as a traveling reserve and believes that his time will come to represent Australia in major tournaments.

T20 Cricket's Evolution: Ponting Analyzes Batting Strategies and the Impact Player RuleRicky Ponting, the esteemed coach of Delhi Capitals and former Australian cricket legend, has provided insightful commentary on the remarkable evolution of T20 cricket and the transformative shifts in batting strategies that have shaped the modern era.Ponting acknowledges the once-unthinkable possibility of 300-run scores, attributing this to the liberating effect of the impact player rule on batters. He emphasizes the abandonment of traditional settling-in periods, highlighting the immediate need to "go out and hit from ball one."The significance of strike rates has also escalated, with Ponting noting the increasing focus on achieving specific strike rates regardless of ball count. He observes that teams like Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians employ varying approaches to anchor roles, recognizing the need for stability and explosiveness in different team compositions.Ponting initially harbored skepticism towards T20 cricket's sustainability, but he now recognizes its enduring appeal, particularly evident in the high-octane spectacle of the Indian Premier League. He applauds the fearlessness and adaptability of modern batters, emphasizing their relentless pursuit of innovation and range-hitting prowess.Ponting predicts a paradigm shift towards 250-plus scores in India, fueled by the impact player rule and evolving ground dynamics. He believes that the format will continue to evolve, with batters pushing the boundaries of innovation and entertainment.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, renowned for his mastery of the pull shot, recently shared his expertise with uncapped Indian batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi. The encounter occurred after the IPL 2024 match between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.Ponting, now the head coach of DC, took time out to guide Raghuvanshi on the intricacies of playing the pull shot. The video of their interaction, shared by the IPL on social media, has garnered widespread attention."Making the most out of the opportunities. Young Angkrish Raghuvanshi receives some valuable post-match lessons from the @DelhiCapitals Head Coach @RickyPonting," the IPL captioned the video.Raghuvanshi has made a significant impact in this year's IPL, earning a place in the playing XI after an injury to Nitish Rana. In five innings, he has played crucial knocks of 54, 24, and 30.On Monday, he did not get the chance to bat as an impact substitute, as KKR secured an easy victory.After DC opted to bat, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy led KKR's disciplined bowling attack, restricting the hosts to 153-9. In reply, Phil Salt led the chase with an opening stand of 79 with Sunil Narine, guiding the two-time champions to victory with 3.3 overs to spare.Ponting's guidance to Raghuvanshi highlights the importance of mentorship and knowledge sharing in sports. The former Australian captain's insights can help the young Indian batter refine his technique and improve his performance.

Ricky Ponting, the legendary Australian cricketer, has revealed his meticulous collection of bats used to score international centuries. During his illustrious career, Ponting amassed an impressive 71 international hundreds, including 41 in Test matches.Ponting's passion for collecting bats began early on. He still possesses his first bat, adorned with stickers, as a cherished memento. Throughout his career, he meticulously preserved every bat with which he scored an international century, inscribing the score and opposition's name on each one.Among Ponting's prized possessions is the bat he used to score his unforgettable unbeaten 140 against India in the 2003 World Cup final. This iconic innings played a pivotal role in Australia's victory.Ponting's collection is not merely a display of his achievements but also a testament to his love for the game. He keeps his bats in his garage, away from public view.Sourav Ganguly, former India captain and current Delhi Capitals Director, shared his own experience of receiving his first bat at the age of 13. He recalled the joy of hitting the ball with ease.David Warner, playing for Delhi Capitals this season, also shared his childhood memories of his first bat, a birthday gift from his uncle. He kept it close to his bed, cherishing its significance.Ponting's collection serves as a reminder of his remarkable career and the countless memories he created on the field. It is a testament to his dedication, passion, and the enduring legacy he has left on the game of cricket.