Ricky Ponting steps down as Delhi Capitals head coach

New Delhi, July 13: Ricky Ponting, Australia’s two-time ODI World Cup-winning captain, has stepped down as the head coach of Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the franchise said in a statement on Saturday. The development brings to an end Ponting’s seven-year association with the franchise ahead of the mega auction in the run-up to the 2025 season of the tournament. Ponting was appointed as DC’s head coach in 2018 when the side was called Delhi Daredevils.

“Dear Ricky, 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 -- 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.”