Ricky Ponting, the iconic Australian batsman and World Cup-winning captain, will no longer serve as the head coach of the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. His seven-year tenure with the team has come to an end, announced prior to the mega auction for the 2025 season of the lucrative league. According to ESPNCricinfo, the franchise did not meet the expected outcomes under Ponting's guidance, prompting the owners to seek a change. The official Twitter account of the Delhi Capitals confirmed the parting with Ponting, expressing gratitude for his contributions over the past seven seasons.
Since Ponting's appointment in 2018, when the team was known as the Delhi Daredevils, they made the playoffs in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Notably, Delhi reached the finals in 2020 for the first time but was defeated by the Mumbai Indians. However, the team has not advanced to the final stages in the last three years, finishing sixth this season, just missing the playoffs due to net run rate. Despite seven wins and seven losses, the season saw positive developments with captain Rishabh Pant's return from a serious injury and impressive performances from young talents like Jake Fraser McGurk and Tristan Stubbs.
The Delhi Capitals expressed deep appreciation for Ponting's impact on the team, highlighting his emphasis on care, commitment, attitude, and effort. His dedication was evident in his early arrival and late departure from training sessions, his enthusiastic involvement during strategic timeouts, and his supportive gestures towards all team members. The team thanked Ponting for his role in their growth as athletes and individuals, looking forward to his continued success.
The coaching staff of the Delhi Capitals now includes director of cricket Sourav Ganguly, assistant coach Pravin Amre, bowling coach James Hopes, and fielding coach Biju George.
