Ricky Ponting, the legendary Australian cricketer and coach, is currently a free agent in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after parting ways with Delhi Capitals (DC) in July 2023. Ponting, a two-time World Cup-winning captain, joined DC in 2018 and guided the team to its maiden IPL final in 2021. However, the team’s performance in subsequent seasons fell short of expectations.
Despite his lackluster coaching record in the IPL, Ponting remains a highly sought-after figure in the league. As the IPL 2025 mega auction approaches, rumors are swirling that Ponting could join defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). In a recent interview, Ponting expressed his interest in continuing his IPL journey, albeit with a different franchise.
“There might be a few opportunities coming up in IPL in the next few weeks, and we’ll see what happens,” Ponting told Sky Sports.
KKR is reportedly considering Ponting or Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara as a replacement for former mentor Gautam Gambhir, who was recently appointed head coach of the Indian cricket team.
Meanwhile, Ponting remains eager to take up coaching opportunities in the IPL. He acknowledged that the lack of silverware during his tenure at DC led to his departure but expressed his desire to return to the league.
“I’d love to coach again in the IPL. I’ve had a great time every year that I’ve been involved, whether that was in the early days as a player or the couple of years I had at Mumbai as head coach there,” Ponting said on The ICC Review podcast.
“I’ve had seven seasons at Delhi, which unfortunately didn’t really work out the way that I would have wanted and certainly the way that the franchise would have wanted.”
“Me going there was all about trying to bring some silverware to the team and that didn’t happen,” he conceded.
With his wealth of experience and knowledge, Ricky Ponting remains a valuable asset to any IPL franchise. His potential move to KKR would be a significant development in the league and could bolster the team’s chances of retaining its title.
