IPL 2021: With Ricky Ponting around, my captaincy is going great – Rishabh Pant

Delhi Capitals’ newly appointed skipper Rishabh Pant has stated that he is relishing the opportunity to lead the franchise. Pant was handed the captaincy baton after Shreyas Iyer was ruled out due to a shoulder injury. Pant stated that he tries to read the game as a wicket-keeper and with a coach like Ricky Ponting around, his captaincy is going great.

Ponting is regarded as one of the best coaches in the business and he knows how to get the best out of his players. During his heydays, Ponting was one of the best ever captains and he has all the experience as a leader.

Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals registered their third win of the season after they defeated defending champions Mumbai Indians by six wickets. Thus, DC has got off to a decent start and Pant, the captain, has done a fine job for the franchise.

Pant is still young in his leadership career and he is expected to get better with experience. The youngster has led Delhi in the domestic circuit and that must be helping him in leading DC with aplomb.

“As a wicketkeeper, I keep on reading the games and it has helped me a lot but with the seniors around and Rickey Ponting in our management, I think, it is going great,” Rishabh Pant said at the post-match press conference.

Meanwhile, Pant admitted that it is a challenge to travel amid the Covid-19 pandemic. However, he stated that the team is not too focused on outside things and BCCI has done a fine job in giving them a secure bio-bubble.

“It is slightly challenging because of the time of COVID. But I think as a team, we are not focusing on outside things too much. BCCI has done really well to give us a good bubble and traveling. So, we are focusing more on cricket. And it’s good to see people adjusting to the pitch like this especially when you are coming from Wankhede. It’s good to see,” Rishabh Pant said. 

Rishabh Pant’s captaincy had come under the scanner for his captaincy in the match against Rajasthan Royals as he didn’t give the ball to experienced spinner Ravichandran Ashwin despite the off-spinner bowling an economical spell of 0-14 in his three overs. The team’s head coach Ricky Ponting had admitted that it was a mistake on their part to not give the final over to Ashwin.