IPL 2021: Shreyas Iyer Is So Keen To Get Back On The Field, Score Runs And Win: Ricky Ponting

Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting called Shreyas Iyer a world-class player and expects him to contribute to the team’s cause in the second phase of IPL 2021.

Iyer missed the first phase of IPL 2021 after he had injured his shoulder in an ODI match against England and had to go under shoulder surgery.

In Iyer’s absence, wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant led Delhi Capitals in the first half of the tournament and currently they sit on top of the points tables.

It’s great to have Shreyas Iyer back: Ricky Ponting

Iyer got clearance from National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru to play for the second leg of IPL.

Ponting said that it was great to have Shreyas Iyer back in the team and also mentioned that the Mumbai batsman is eager to play for the team.

“It’s great to have Shreyas back. He has got an infectious attitude. I have been talking to him a lot and his training has been great,” Ponting told Delhi Capitals, as reported by Hindustan Times. 

“He’s so keen to get back into the field, score runs and win. He’s a world-class player and he’s going to add a lot to our team, there’s no doubt about that,” he added.

I don’t think we played our best cricket: Ricky Ponting

Capitals have been consistent in the last few seasons and this year too, they displayed a tremendous performance by winning six of their eight games to claim the top spot.

But Ponting feels that the team should not look in the first half of the season as he intends to rebuild the team and said they didn’t play their best cricket in the tournament so far.

“It doesn’t matter what we’ve done in the first half of the season. It’s been four months since when we played some really good cricket, so we really have to start again,” Ponting mentioned.

“We have to build ourselves as we go along in the tournament and make sure that we are playing our best cricket at the back end of the tournament.

“Our performance in the first half of the tournament was because of how well we played and how hard we worked, but I don’t think we played our best cricket,” he concluded. 

Delhi Capitals will play Sunriseres Hyderabad on September 22 at Dubai International Stadium to resume their campaign.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Rishabh Pant To Lead Delhi Capitals In Second Phase Despite Shreyas Iyer’s Return