The India-Australia rivalry has always enthralled the fans. The sight of the players sledging each other, having a go at each other and coming up with world-class batting and bowling performances have always excited the fans. The rivalry might not be as celebrated as the Ashes but there is little doubting its ferocity. Players from either teams give their best to win this fixture. Well, Ricky Ponting and Sourav Ganguly are well aware of what this rivalry is all about.
Both the legendary skippers witnessed the rise of this rivalry which took a ferocious form in the early 2000s. The last decade witnessed some absolute classic matches between the two nations as well as controversial incidents. Unsurprisingly, there are speculations that the players do not gel well off the field and there is a lot of bad blood between them. But as far as Ganguly and Ponting are concerned, the latter has insisted both the former captains have ‘always got along just fine’.
Ganguly and Ponting are all set to work together in the upcoming Indian Premier League for Delhi Capitals. While Ponting is the coach of the team, Ganguly was recently appointed the advisor. And Ponting has said he and Ganguly have no problem whatsoever.
“Probably Ganguly and Steve Waugh had a bit more issues! Sourav and I have always got along just fine. We have great respect for one another. We’ve actually interacted a lot since we’ve been retired,” Ricky Ponting told Cricbuzz.
He further said that Ganguly will play an important role in the upcoming season.
“We’ve been on cricket committees together and spent a bit of time talking. He will be an advisor. He might not have anything to do with us on game day but he will be around the team, around meetings. I’m very, very open to that. He’s been a great leader and player and he’s got great ideas around the game. That’s a good part of the IPL, a lot of barriers are broken down between countries and coaches. I’d never have thought that Harbhajan and I could be good mates!,” said Ponting.
Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, will be hoping their fortunes change in the upcoming edition. The national capital-based outfit is one of the perennial underachievers in the league. More often than not, they have ended up with the wooden spoon. In eleven seasons, they progressed ahead of the league stage just thrice and are yet to reach the final. Their last play-off appearance came way back in 2012. Since then, they have not managed to finish above sixth.