Ricky Ponting will not return as the coach of Delhi Capitals, concluding his seven-year tenure with the team ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. The franchise's owners have decided to seek a new head coach following a series of underwhelming performances.
Ponting joined Delhi Capitals, then known as Delhi Daredevils, as head coach in 2018. During his time, the team saw mixed results. In his first season, they finished last in the league. However, the following years saw an upswing as they qualified for the playoffs in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Notably, in 2020, they reached the IPL finals for the first time, ultimately losing to the Mumbai Indians. Despite this success, Delhi Capitals failed to make the playoffs in the subsequent three seasons, ending the IPL 2024 season in sixth place with an equal number of wins and losses.
In a social media post, Delhi Capitals acknowledged Ponting's departure, expressing difficulty in finding the right words. They highlighted the core values Ponting instilled in the team: care, commitment, attitude, and effort. They praised his hands-on coaching style, dedication, and the personal impact he had on the players, both on and off the field. Ponting's motivational speeches, personal gestures, and presence at training sessions were particularly noted.
The current Delhi Capitals coaching team includes director of cricket Sourav Ganguly, assistant coach Pravin Amre, bowling coach James Hopes, and fielding coach Biju George.