IPL 2021: Ricky Ponting joins Delhi Capitals, new captain decision soon

IPL 2021 – Ricky Ponting Delhi Capitals: The coach of Delhi Capitals has arrived. After talking to Ricky Ponting team will make the biggest decision of the season for the team. Decision on who will be the new captain of Delhi Capitals for IPL 2021?

IPL 2021 – Ricky Ponting Delhi Capitals: Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Ponting said: “Staying safe, on my way to join @delhicapitals and get things started for #IPL2021. Can’t wait.” He arrived on the day of Holi in Mumbai.

.@RickyPonting is here 🤩

We repeat 👉🏼 RICKY IS HERE 🗣️

Glad to have you back, Coach 💙#YehHaiNayiDilli #IPL2021 @TajMahalMumbai pic.twitter.com/gE8L1VcFvN

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) March 29, 2021

Delhi Capitals will begin their IPL 2021 campaign against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 10 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai but is yet to finalize their captain for the season after injury to Shreyas Iyer.

Also Read:IPL 2021: KKR allrounder Shakib Al Hasan arrives in India for IPL 2021

IPL 2021 – Who will captain Delhi Capitals? According to the information available DC promoters Kiran Kumar Gandhi and Parth Jindal along with coach Ricky Ponting will huddle together post his arrival to decide on the name of DC’s captain for IPL 2021.

InsideSport.co had reported on Thursday that Rishabh Pant is the frontrunner for the captaincy for Delhi Capitals. DC Promoters, Coach and few other members of management is likely to give their seal of approval for the same, though according to the sources deliberation on few other names is not ruled out.

Also Read:IPL 2021: Ajay Ratra joins Delhi Capitals as Assistant Coach

IPL 2021 Ricky Ponting Delhi Capitals – DC Captaincy – Names that can be discussed for captaincy role ?

Along with Pant, Delhi Capitals are currently spoilt for choices for the captaincy role. They have Ajinkya Rahane, Steven Smith, R Ashwin in their ranks. All of these names have experience of leading IPL franchise in the past but the source told InsideSport that DC is unlikely to look beyond Pant.

Among all potential candidates, Pant is the only one who hasn’t captained any IPL franchise till date.

R.Ashwin – The senior Indian spinner had led KingsXI Punjab for two seasons in 2018, 2019. Overall Ashwin has captaincy experience of 28 Matches, won 12 and lost 16. His record with KXIP was not too encouraging. Though considered as one of the best readers of the game, unlikely that DC will take a step back to handover captaincy to a player who failed as captain with some other franchise.

Steven Smith – 43 Matches, Won 25, Lost 17. Smith has huge experience to lead IPL franchises but the thing which goes against him is – that his place in the line-up is not very certain. He also failed to live up to expectations as captain of Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2020 – no chance that DC management will give captaincy to Smith.

Ajinkya Rahane – Super successful as captain of Indian test team in Australia. But he had a disaster of captaincy stint for Rajasthan Royals – unlikely that DC will go with Rahane as captain. His captaincy record reads – 25 Matches – Won 9 and lost 16.

In comparison Rishabh Pant has never led a IPL franchise but his exuberance, current form and most importantly his aggressive mindset works in his favor. Moreover DC has groomed him as a future leader for the last 2 years by appointing him as vice-captain in 2019, 2020. All of this points that Delhi Capitals is unlikely to look beyond Pant for captaincy role

IPL 2021: Ajay Ratra named as team’s assistant coach for the season

On Sunday, the Delhi-based franchise announced the appointment of former India wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra as the team’s assistant coach. On his appointment, Ratra in a statement, said: “I am honoured to join Delhi Capitals as an assistant coach. This is a very exciting team to work with, abundant with talent. I can’t wait to meet the team and contribute to its success. I am grateful to the Delhi Capitals management for giving me this wonderful opportunity.”

“We would like to welcome Ajay Ratra to the Delhi Capitals family,” said franchise’s CEO Vinod Bisht, on the development. “His experience, as player and coach will be invaluable, as we look to take the franchise from strength to strength. We are excited to have him on board, and wish him all the very best for the upcoming season.”

The 39-year-old recently coached the Assam state team in the Syed Mushtaq AliT20 tournament and the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He has coached the Punjab state team in the past too and has worked as a fielding and wicketkeeping coach with the Indian women’s team during camps. This will be his first brush with an IPL franchise.

Ratra made history in 2002 when he became the youngest wicketkeeper (aged 20) to score a Test hundred, and the second Indian wicketkeeper to score a century overseas. Ratra, who is currently employed by ONGC as Manager (Corporate Communications) played six Tests and 12 ODIs for India. He joins the Delhi Capitals coaching staff of Ponting, Mohammad Kaif, Pravin Amre, and James Hopes.

Delhi Capitals had reached the finals of IPL 2020 but the side suffered a loss against Mumbai Indians in the summit clash.

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