IPL 2018: Aussie World Cup winning captain joins Delhi Daredevils as head coach

Delhi Daredevils, whose ten-year partnership with team director TA Sekhar came to a close last year, has roped in the services of the Australian legend Ricky Ponting as the head coach for IPL 2018. In a bid to better their performance from the previous season, which saw them finish at No.6 in the table, the franchise will hope for Ponting to guide them to their maiden IPL title.

The three-time World Cup-winner had been the head coach of the Mumbai Indians for a period of two years until he was replaced by Mahela Jayawardene in 2016. He was instrumental in shaping the 2015-16 Mumbai Indians squad. Not only that, but he also played a clinical role in unearthing and nurturing talents like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya who are now regulars in the Indian cricket team. He also played an important part in supporting and marshalling players like Jos Buttler and Krunal Pandya to get the best out of them.

The news was confirmed by the franchise on Twitter. A statement on the club’s official Twitter handle read, “We are glad to announce our new head coach for IPL 2018 and it is none other than the legend, Ricky Ponting. #DilDilliHai.”

You can see the Tweet below

We are glad to announce our new head coach for IPL 2018 and it is none other than the legend, Ricky Ponting. #DilDilliHai pic.twitter.com/PZtQKoUhMd

— Delhi Daredevils (@DelhiDaredevils) January 4, 2018

Ponting linked with a role as a coach of the Australian T20 cricket team

Present coach Darren Lehmann has already revealed his plan to walk away from the job after the 2019 Ashes in England. The former World Cup winner will quit office once his contract expires after a jam-packed 2019.

Thus with Lehmann gone, Cricket Australia (CA) want to have a replacement in place so that the transition is smooth. And recently Ponting was linked with a role with as a coach in the T20 side. While he stated that he was interested in being linked to the Australian side, he also added that no former talks had been completed between him and the board.