The Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed an unprecedented surge in high-scoring matches this season, with four of the five all-time highest totals being recorded. Sunrisers Hyderabad has set the bar with the top two scores (287 and 277), followed by Kolkata Knight Riders (272) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (262).
Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting believes that the team with the most aggressive batting approach will emerge victorious in this year’s IPL. “The Impact Player rule is having a big effect on how teams are batting,” Ponting said. “You saw how Travis [Head] batted [versus RCB]. You cannot bat that way unless you have confidence in the batters underneath you and unless you bat deep.”
Ponting also highlighted the importance of defensive bowling, noting that the teams with the best defensive bowling records have often won major tournaments like the IPL and Big Bash League. However, he acknowledged that the current trend in the IPL suggests that attacking batting may be more effective than defensive bowling.
Ponting also addressed his team’s struggles in the death overs, particularly with South African pacer Anrich Nortje conceding a significant number of runs. “Looking through the stats, I think there are only three teams that are going at under-10 at the death,” Ponting said. “And if you go for say 13, the difference is huge in that phase. But it is a difference of just one or two balls. With the T20 game, that is how crucial every ball is. We know we have to tighten up and, trust me, we are working really hard.”
