IPL 2021: Delhi’s head coach Ricky Ponting motivates the team after a close loss to RR

Delhi Capitals lost their second match of the IPL 2021 against Rajasthan Royals earlier this week in Mumbai. After being in a dominant position for most of the time during the second innings, Rishabh Pant’s side failed to keep their calm in the death overs, losing by just three wickets. A clip of the Delhi head coach Ricky Ponting delivering a speech after the match was seen on social media.

The former Australian captain, who has been the head coach of the Delhi franchise for the past three seasons was seen encouraging the group of players. He praised the side for keeping the contest alive for most of the match. Defending a total of 148, Delhi shocked Rajasthan early by dismissing some key batsmen with a score of 42 for 5.

Rajasthan recovered well with a half-century from David Miller. However, the South African’s dismissal for 62 helped Delhi come back in the match again. With 27 needed from two overs, Chris Morris smashed four sixes during his knock of 36 runs off 18 balls and guided Rajasthan home in this thriller.

Ricky Ponting praises Chris Woakes, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Rishabh Pant for performance against Rajasthan

“What we talk about around this group is never being beaten right and keeping ourselves in the contest and we did that magnificently tonight”, said Ponting in the video released by Delhi Capitals social media team. “In fact, up until about the 16th over mark, I thought we had them, and that says a lot about us as a group. No matter how badly we play, until they hit the winning run, we are never out of the game”, he added.

📽️ | @RickyPonting's Dressing Room speech after #RRvDC 👉🏻 Leave it to the Boss to lift up the spirits of the DC boys with all the positives from an absolute thriller 💙#YehHaiNayiDilli #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/JRAkkSssE7

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 17, 2021

Ponting praised Chris Woakes for his spell in the powerplay. The England all-rounder bowled two overs for 2 for 8 only when Delhi needed him to give them a good start. Ponting also credited Rishabh Pant for his knock of 51 runs from 32 balls during Delhi’s batting. Ravichandran Ashwin also received a pat on the back from the coach for not conceding a single boundary during his three-over spell of 0 for 14.

Ponting further reflected on the defeat and made a point that his team will walk with a lot of positives from this match. He noted that all the skills in the group are in a good place with most players doing their best. Delhi Capitals had started their campaign with a win over Chennai Super Kings.

“So, for most of the day, we did lots of things really, but the game got away. But I got to walk out with a lot of positives out of today, right? We didn’t play very well. We got beaten with two balls to spare. So, there are so many good things to take out of it. All of our skills are in a great place”, he further remarked.