Ricky Ponting’s tenure as Delhi Capitals coach ends, replacement named

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has been removed from his position as the coach of Delhi Capitals side. Sourav Ganguly confirmed the news to the media on Saturday evening that the change is in place ahead of the IPL 2025 season. 

The former Indian skipper also confirmed that he is set to take over the reins of the team as the head coach. Delhi Capitals, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings, are one of three original sides yet to win the IPL. 

Despite a slow start the Delhi Capitals under the captaincy of Rishabh Pant managed to pull their season back. At one stage it looked like the Delhi side had an outside chance to make it to the playoffs. Delhi Capitals though stumbled in the end and missed out on a playoff place once more. 

Sourav Ganguly confirms himself as the next coach 

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly was speaking to a leading Bengali newspaper called Aajkal. During the course of the chat, the Prince of Kolkata as he is fondly called confirmed that Ricky Ponting has been axed as the Delhi Capitals coach. Dada also revealed that he will be the next coach of the Delhi side. 

Sourav Ganguly said, “I have to plan for next year’s IPL, I want to win the IPL once for Delhi Capitals. The mega auction is next year, and hence I have started planning from now on.”

This is when Ganguly broke the news about Ponting and said, “Let me break a news, Ricky Ponting will not be the head coach of Delhi Capitals. Geoffrey Boycott was right, as Ricky Ponting wasn’t able to take the team forward in the last 7 years. I have to speak to the franchise and ask them to look at Indian coaches. I will be the head coach. Let us see how I perform”

There is a mega action planned for next year, with the BCCI yet to decide on the retentions. During the chat, Ganguly also said that he wants to target Jamie Smith during the auctions next year. The young Englishman made his Test debut against West Indies and scored a memorable fifty at Lord’s.