Delhi Daredevils (DD), whose partnership with former India captain Rahul Dravid 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.
Ponting takes over the reins at Daredevils from Rahul Dravid, who had stepped down after the previous season owing to BCCI’s conflict-of-interest regulations.
Dravid chose to coach India A and India Under-19 teams over the IPL franchise.
The 43-year-old Ponting has earlier coached Mumbai Indians for two seasons in 2015 (when they won the title) and 2016.
Apart from coaching role, Ponting has played in the cash-rich tournament for Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians.
The DD franchise also announced that the trio of Rishabh Pant, Chris Morris and Shreyas Iyer had been retained for the upcoming edition of the IPL.
“Ricky Ponting has been appointed as head coach. We will have a new coach and a new team with the idea of having continuity. We have retained two youngsters and the whole team will be built around them. Chris Morris is a top all rounder,” Daredevils CEO Hemant Dua said.
