Ricky Ponting and Delhi Capitals part ways after seven years

|| CF DESK ||

Ricky Ponting's tenure as head coach of the Delhi Capitals has come to an end, concluding a seven-year association with the franchise ahead of the mega auction for IPL 2025.

The decision to part ways with Ponting comes after DC's inability to meet performance expectations, prompting the owners to seek a new direction with a different head coach.

Ponting began his journey with the team in 2018, back when it was still known as the Delhi Daredevils. In his first season, the team finished last in the league, but significant improvements followed.

Under his leadership, the Delhi Capitals qualified for the playoffs in three consecutive seasons: 2019, 2020, and 2021. The pinnacle of this period was in 2020 when DC reached the IPL finals for the first time, finishing as runners-up to the Mumbai Indians.

Despite this success, the last three seasons saw the team fall short of playoff qualification. The 2024 season ended with DC in sixth place, having won and lost seven games each. This decline in performance ultimately led to the decision to bring Ponting's coaching era to a close.

"As you move on as our head coach, we're finding 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. 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 dugout during strategic timeouts, and biting your nails off until there were none left,” DC said in a post on social media.

"Seven summers of your dressing room speeches - the speeches, Oh! (Separate post for that loading) Seven summers of your hugs, shoulder pats and fist pumps for us all - newcomer, superstar... and everyone in-between. Thank you for everything, Coach! Like, you often close out, 'Let's leave this here mate, grab a beer, get back to work tomorrow, yeah?'"

The remaining DC coaching staff comprises director of cricket Sourav Ganguly, assistant coach Pravin Amre, bowling coach James Hopes, and fielding coach Biju George.