Ricky Ponting Declines Team India Coaching Job, Prioritises IPL for Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting has confirmed that he was recently approached by the BCCI to take up the charges as the Indian team’s head coach. This development comes as the BCCI looks to find a replacement for the current head coach, Rahul Dravid, whose contract is going to end after the T20 World Cup 2024.

BCCI Began Hunt for New Head Coach

As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the vacancy on May 13, there has been widespread speculations about various international cricketers being considered for the role, with Ponting’s name prominently mentioned. The former Australian captain acknowledged that he had been discussing the coaching position with BCCI officials.

Team India’s Head Coach: BCCI asks MS Dhoni to Convince CSK Coach to Replace Rahul Dravid: Report

Ricky Ponting’s Coaching Experience

Ricky Ponting has previously held coaching roles, including serving as Australia’s assistant coach in 2019 and the interim T20I coach. Despite his extensive experience, he has yet to commit to a full-time national team coaching role.

In the IPL, Ponting has been the head coach of the Delhi Capitals since 2018. In a statement to the ICC Ponting addressed the reports and confirmed the informal talks that took place during the IPL.

“I’ve seen a lot of reports about it. Normally these things pop up on social media before you even know about them, but there were a few little one-on-one conversations during the IPL, just to get a level of interest from me as to whether I would do it,” said Ponting.

Why Ricky Ponting turned down Team India head coach offer

Despite his interest in coaching a national team, the Tasmanian emphasized the challenges such a role would bring to his personal life. He expressed a desire to maintain a balance that allows him to spend time with his family and manage his other commitments.

“I’d love to be a senior coach of a national team, but with the other things that I have in my life and wanting to have a bit of time at home. Everyone knows if you take a job working with the Indian team you can’t be involved in an IPL team, so it would take that out of it as well. Also, a national head coach is a 10 or 11-month of the year job, and as much as I’d like to do it, it just doesn’t fit into my lifestyle right now and the things that I really enjoy doing,” added the 49-year-old.