IPL 2020: Ricky Ponting Expects Rishabh Pant To Perform Like IPL 12
Sep 19, 2020 at 7:10 PM
The swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant is best suited for the shorter formats. In IPL 2019, he amazed the opposition with his big hits, smashing 488 runs in 16 matches at the strike rate of 162.66. Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting expects Pant to depict the same performance in IPL 2020 as well.
The second-half of 2019 didn’t go well for Rishabh Pant because he was under scrutiny since MS Dhoni left the place vacant in Team India. He was heavily criticised for his mere mistakes which put him under more pressure. Subsequently, he also lost his place in the playing XI in shorter formats.
The IPL 2020 is going to be a big opportunity for him to prove his mettle. Ponting also believes the same. He said that Pant has been doing a decent job in the nets.
“Pant, during the last week, has really turned the corner well and I would expect him to perform as well as he did last year,” DC coach Ricky Ponting said in the virtual press conference.
Delhi Capitals is a balanced team: Ricky Ponting
DC has roped in new players for this season- Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shimron Hetmyer are among that list.
With the inclusion of new members, Ricky Ponting believes that they are balanced side while addressing that they have now a lot more options for middle-order
As many have questioned about Ajinkya Rahane’s role, he said that Rahane would add more depth in the team’s batting.
We really have a balanced side. There is a lot of competition for middle-order slots. Rahane gives us more depth to our batting,” Ponting added.
Ponting stated that DC has his bases covered with having a good mix left-right combination.
“Shikhar had as good a last season as anybody. Prithvi has been training very well. Shreyas has had his best 12 months for the Indian team. We have Pant, Hetmyer and Alex Carey (both left-handers), which gives us a good mix of left-right combinations. We have our bases covered,” Ponting added.
Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals will play their first match of the tournament against Kings XI Punjab on 20 September.