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Former Australian cricketer and current coach of Delhi Capitals (DC), Ricky Ponting has offered insights on the decision not to pursue Travis Head in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 auction.
Travis Head’s IPL History and Unsuccessful Bid in 2023 auction
Travis Head, a seasoned campaigner, has been a familiar face in the IPL, notably featuring for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the 2016 and 2017 editions. In 2015, he was part of the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) squad, although the southpaw didn’t get a chance to showcase his skills in a single game. Despite a commendable track record, having amassed 205 runs in 10 matches for RCB at a striking rate of 138.51, the 29-year-old found himself in an unexpected predicament during the IPL 2023 auction – he went unsold.
Also READ: Australia’s Travis Head opens up about his plans and considerations for IPL 2024
Ricky Ponting details the logic behind not going after Head
Ponting revealed that he was keen on having Head in the DC squad for IPL 2023. However, the batter’s wedding plans became a crucial factor in the decision. Ponting stated that while he was willing to pick Head, the owners were not comfortable with the prospect of the player delaying his arrival by three weeks due to his wedding commitments. Despite missing out in the previous auction, Ponting expressed optimism about Head securing an IPL contract in the upcoming edition.
“Travis has done everything right to make sure he gets a deal this year. He would have had a deal last year if it wasn’t for his wedding. His wedding got in the middle of it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to pick him up at Delhi. I rang him and told him I was going for him in the auction, and he said, ‘just to let you know, I’m getting married two weeks into the IPL.’ He would have missed three weeks at start of tournament, which our owners weren’t willing to take that gamble on,” Ponting was quoted as saying by 7News.
Remarkable performance in World Cup 2023 final by Head
Head’s stellar performance in the ODI World Cup 2023 final, where he not only showcased his batting prowess with a remarkable 137 off 120 but also took an impressive catch to dismiss Rohit Sharma, has certainly put him in the spotlight and increased his chances of featuring in the IPL 2024.
