Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has been appointed as the new head coach of the IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils. The chief executive of the IPL franchise had made the announcement on his twitter handle. He wrote' Welcoming @DelhiDaredevils new head coach #RickyPonting @punterheads #WorldCup and #IPL winning player and coach to the #CapitalCity #DilDilliHai
The legendary batsman who coached Mumbai Indians, had helped them lift the IPL 2015 trophy but decided not to renew his two-year contract which expired in 2016. Ponting joined as a player in 2014 but had left midway through the season due to poor form. Before his stint with Mumbai Indians, the former skipper was briefly a part of Kolkata Knight Riders for the inaugural edition.
Ponting now fills the void which as left vacant by former Indian skipper Rahul Dravid who stepped down after the previous season's owing to BCCI's conflict of interest regulations. Dravid is now the head coach of India 'A' and the India Under-19 team.
Australian batting great Ricky Ponting was today appointed coach of the Delhi Daredevils franchise for the upcoming Indian Premier League.
The announcement was made by Delhi Daredevils CEO Hemant Dua as he welcomed the three-time World Cup winner.
Ponting takes over the reins at DD from former India captain Rahul Dravid, who had stepped down after the previous season owing to BCCI's conflict-of-interest regulations.
Dravid chose to coach India A and India Under-19 teams over the IPL franchise.
"Ricky Ponting has been appointed as head coach. We will have a new coach and a new team with the idea of having continuity. We have retained two youngsters and the whole team will be built around them. Chris Morris is a top all rounder," Daredevils CEO Hemant Dua said.
Ponting will be assisting the current head coach Darren Lehman in Australia's T20 tri-series against England and New Zealand in February.
The legendary batsman played 168 Tests, scoring 13378 runs at 51.85.
In ODIs, he tallied 375 appearances in which he scored 13704 runs at 42.03 apart from 401 runs in 17 T20Is.
Delhi Daredevils retained Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer and Chris Morris ahead of the IPL auctions to be held on January 27-28.
(With PTI Inputs)
