Ricky Ponting, despite leaving the Delhi Capitals, is eager to explore coaching opportunities in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He revealed that the team plans to appoint an Indian coach as his successor. While acknowledging his departure was partly due to the lack of trophies during his seven-year tenure, Ponting is keen on another shot at IPL coaching.
“I’d love to coach again in the IPL. I’ve had a great time every year that I’ve been involved, whether that was in the early days as a player or the couple of years I had at Mumbai as head coach there,” he said on The ICC Review podcast, as per PTI. “I’ve had seven seasons at Delhi, which unfortunately didn’t really work out the way that I would have wanted and certainly the way that the franchise would have wanted.”
“Me going there was all about trying to bring some silverware to the team and that didn’t happen,” he conceded.
Ponting believes the Delhi Capitals might be seeking a coach who can contribute more extensively during the off-season. “What you’ll find is that they’ll probably end up with an Indian-based head coach. Certainly that’s some of the dialogue that I’ve had with them anyway,” he said.
“They made it pretty clear that they wanted to head in a different direction with someone that could give them a bit more time and a bit more availability through the off-season,” he said.
“More than anything, to be able to spend a bit more time in India with a lot of the local players. I just couldn’t do that with the other stuff that I’ve got going on,” Ponting said.
“But I’m really thankful for my time that I had there, met some great people, worked with some great people and obviously worked with some great players through the years as well. There could be a few opportunities for me popping up in the next couple of months and I’d love to be back coaching in the IPL again next season,” he added.
While Matthew Mott’s departure leaves England searching for a head coach, Ponting has clearly stated his disinterest in international coaching roles. “No, I wouldn’t ever consider doing that actually,” he said.
Despite being contacted about the England Test team position, which ultimately went to Brendon McCullum of New Zealand, Ponting remains resolute. “I’m on record saying that international jobs for me right now, are not really where my life is at, as there’s just so much more time taken up with an international job,” he said. “Coaching other international teams is one thing, coaching England for an Australian is probably something slightly different, but right now there’s sort of enough on my plate as I’ve got a bit more coming up in the next couple of months in the UK,” he added.
Ponting revealed his upcoming commentary role for Australia’s T20I and ODI series in England next month. “Australia’s got some white-ball stuff coming up over there which I’ll go and commentate, so no, right now if my name was on the list they can actually take it off.”
“I’ve got other commitments as well, with my TV work and things that I do and also trying to balance that out with having a decent amount of home time, which I haven’t had much of the last couple of years anyway,” he added.
