Ricky Ponting Dismissed by Delhi Capitals: A Sudden End to a Long Journey
Ricky Ponting has been sensationally dumped by his Indian Premier League franchise, the Delhi Capitals.
A Legendary Cricket Mind
Ponting, 57, is renowned as one of the sharpest cricketing minds in the sport and had been with the IPL team since 2018. He joined the Capitals after a successful stint with the Mumbai Indians, where he led them to the 2015 IPL crown.
A Rocky Start and a Strong Rebuild
After finishing last of the eight teams in his first season, Ponting helped rebuild the Capitals. Under his guidance, the team made the playoffs for three straight seasons between 2019-2021. They reached the final in 2020 but lost to the Mumbai Indians.
Recent Struggles
Despite the initial success, the Capitals failed to reach the postseason in the last three campaigns. This decline in performance eventually led to the franchise’s decision to part ways with Ponting, who was out of contract.
Official Announcement
The Capitals announced their decision in a long post published on X. Initially captioned “Thank you, Ricky,” the post was later edited to clarify that the club had made the call to move on from Ponting. The updated caption read: “After 7 seasons, Delhi Capitals has decided to part ways with Ricky Ponting. It’s been a great journey, Coach! Thank you for everything.”
Emotional Farewell
The post featured a series of graphic designed shots of Ponting and the team, along with an emotional message from the Capitals.
“As you move on as our head coach, we’re finding it incredibly hard to put this down in words,” the message began. It highlighted Ponting’s principles of care, commitment, attitude, and effort, summing up their seven summers together.
Mixed Reactions from Fans
The announcement sparked a mixed response on X. Some fans questioned the decision, praising Ponting’s contribution to the team. Others supported the move, believing it was time for a change.
Ponting’s Future
Despite his departure from the Capitals, Ponting remains active in the cricket world. He continues to be an insightful commentator on TV and recently signed a two-year deal to lead the Washington Freedom in the Major League Cricket competition in the United States.
Closing Remarks
The Capitals’ farewell message concluded with an unusual note about both parties returning to work tomorrow, reflecting the mutual respect and camaraderie built over the years.
“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?’”(cricket betting app)