The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals (DC) has made a significant decision by sacking former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting from the position of head coach on July 13, after a seven-year tenure with the team. The announcement was made via DC’s official social media channels, creating a buzz among Indian cricket fans. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who previously held an advisory role at DC under Ponting, is expected to take over the vacant position.

Despite his extensive tenure and efforts to build a strong team with various star players in the T20 format, Ponting was unable to lead DC to their maiden IPL title. In the recently concluded IPL 2024 season, which marked the return of their skipper Rishabh Pant from injury, DC missed out on a playoff spot, finishing sixth on the points table.

DC’s official statement expressed deep gratitude and emotional farewell to Ponting. “Dear Ricky, As you move on as our Head Coach, we’re finding it incredibly hard to put this down in words. The commitment, attitude, and effort – they sum up our seven summers together,” the statement read.

Thank you, Ricky! 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/D6gt7UbLpW

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) July 13, 2024

The message continued with a nod to Ponting’s leadership style and camaraderie, adding, “Thank you for everything, Coach! Like you often close out, ‘Let’s leave this here, mate, grab a beer, and get back to work tomorrow, yeah?'”

Ponting’s departure marks the end of an era for DC, and fans will be watching closely to see how Sourav Ganguly, a cricketing legend in his own right, will shape the future of the franchise. The transition promises to bring new dynamics and strategies as DC aims to secure their elusive IPL title in the upcoming seasons.