Rishabh Pant and Ricky Ponting. (Photo Source: DC)
Legendary Australian skipper Ricky Ponting recently revealed the reasons behind his departure from Delhi Capitals (DC) and his subsequent appointment as head coach of Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
Ponting, who spent seven seasons with DC from 2018 to 2024, guided the team to three consecutive playoff appearances from 2019 to 2021, including their first final in 2020. However, his tenure with the franchise came to an end in July 2024.
“I felt like we created a really good family environment there. As I said, I understand what they want; they said to me that my availability was becoming an issue. And they wanted to pretty much have a full-time head coach. I could not commit to that, so I was disappointed that it ended, but I understand the direction they wanted to head going forward,” Ponting said as quoted by TOI.
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Everyone that I have been there with, has had a great time: Ricky Ponting
The former Australian skipper’s inability to commit full-time to the role ultimately led to the parting of ways. Despite the disappointment, Ponting acknowledged the positive impact of his time with DC.
“Everyone that I have been there with, has had a great time. You have only to look at some of the social media posts that Delhi put out straightaway to understand that a lot of the people involved in the franchise were disappointed that I wasn’t continuing as well. But the decisions were made,” he added.
Ponting’s coaching journey in the IPL began as a player-coach with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2008, followed by a successful stint with Mumbai Indians, where he transitioned from captain to advisor and eventually head coach.
Now, as Ponting takes on the challenge of leading the Punjab-based franchise, he faces the task of ending the team’s playoff drought, which has remained since 2014. PBKS finished ninth in the previous edition, and the legendary batter will be their third head coach in four seasons.
“That is the thing that makes coaching inviting to me. I like having that pressure. It is as close to getting back to playing as you can possibly get. From the moment I finished playing, when that competition stops in your life, it is really hard to replace that again. The closest thing I could find to playing was getting back in the cricket team’s changing room being a coach and feeling like you are actually playing again. And coaching against guys that I might have played against and guys that are coaching that I played against–I want to beat them. Simple. A cricket changing room is where I’m supposed to be,” the 49-year-old concluded.