IPL 2020: I Think It Was Mainly The Execution In The First Few Overs - Ricky Ponting On Delhi Capitals Loss

Head Coach of the Delhi Capitals, Ricky Ponting opined that his bowlers couldn’t execute their plans to perfection in the initial overs as the Mumbai Indians (MI) comprehensively beat Delhi in Qualifier 1.

In the first over of the inning, Quinton de Kock took 15 runs off Daniel Sams over. Even after losing Rohit Sharma early, runs kept flowing for MI. By the end of the powerplay, MI was 63/1. Delhi came back in the game with wickets in the middle-overs. However, carnage ensued when Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya smashed the DC bowlers to all parts of the ground, posting a total of 200/5.

Delhi’s batting woes continued as they lost three wickets without a run on the board. A half-century from Marcus Stoinis took them to a respectable total. Delhi will face the loser of the Eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Our execution was miles off: Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting after the match said that his bowlers failed proper execution in the early overs and Delhi were straightaway on the backfoot after conceding 15 in the first over. Ponting appreciated Delhi’s effort in the middle-overs where they took wickets and were making a comeback. The coach said that they had planned well, but their execution was way off in the death against Pandya and Kishan.

During the post-match press conference, Ricky Ponting said, “I think it was mainly the execution in the first few overs. In the first over, we went for 15 or 16 and you are on the back foot straight away. We did fight our way back into the game… We felt that we planned really well but under pressure, our execution was miles off.”

Ponting, a World Cup-winning skipper, lauded Stoinis’ innings and said that the all-rounder showed his class. He will take the batting of Stoinis, Axar Patel, and Ashwin’s bowling as positive from the loss. The 45-year-old is looking forward to the challenge against either SRH or RCB in Qualifier 2.

“I think he (Stoinis) showed today how classy player he is. He has really developed his game against spin bowling. It is great that we got something out of the game. He got some runs, Axar Patel played really well at the back and they are the only real positives, including Ashwin’s bowling spell.

“Sunrisers and RCB are both very good sides and deserve their position on the table. So, we will get some training done in the next couple of days and get ready for that challenge,” Ricky Ponting said.

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