IPL 2019: I want Rishabh Pant to go out there with full freedom, says Ricky Ponting

Delhi Capitals‘ head coach Ricky Ponting has insisted he is not worried about Rishabh Pant’s indifferent form with the bat in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League. The former Australia skipper also said that he wants the left-handed batsman to play with freedom. Pant has been looking like a pale shadow of the batsman that took the IPL by storm last year. While Delhi had struggled to get going last year, Pant had a fantastic season which paved his way to the India A side and eventually the Test team.

The wicketkeeper-batsman was the second highest run-scorer last season, amassing a staggering 684 runs with the help of one century and 5 fifties in 14 games. However, he has failed to replicate that form this year thus far. Pant started the season with a bang, hitting a blistering knock of 78 in just 27 deliveries against Mumbai Indians. However, in the following five games, he managed just 98 runs.

His poor form is one of the reasons behind Delhi Capitals’ inconsistent run this season. The franchise has won just one of their last three games and would be desperate to have their star man back in form at the earliest.  But while only time will tell whether Pant manages to regain his form or not, Ponting is in no mood to ask him to change his batting style.

“I am not going to curb the way he plays,” Ponting said. “I am not going to tell him to slow down and settle down because I know if he plays his best, he wins games for us.”

“I want him to go out there with pure freedom and with no other thought in the back of his head other than trying to hit the ball for six,” added Ponting while speaking on the eve of the game against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Hopeful of a good show

Despite Pant’s consistent struggles, Ponting said he is hopeful that the youngster would turn things around and lead the team to ‘three-four’ wins.

“You don’t want to take that away from him but what we want from him is…..he has to understand that we need him batting in the last four overs of every game we play. We are less than halfway through the tournament and I am sure he will win another three-four for us as we go along,” said Ponting.

Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, will be looking to continue their winning run when they take on Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday.

[interaction id=”5caf3fec2da872fe459495fc”]

Get the latest Cricket News and updates from the Indian Premier League (IPL), Match Predictions, Fantasy Cricket Tips and lots more on CricTracker.com.