Harpal Singh Bedi / New Delhi
Delhi Capitals’s Head Coach Ricky Ponting on Friday promised a better showing by his side in their last league match of the IPL 2019 against Rajasthan Royals at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium here on Saturday afternoon.
Talking to media persons on the eve of the match Ponting said is “looking forward to how his team will bounce back” from their loss to CSK.
The two teams have previously faced each other on 19 occasions which has seen RR register 11 victories, while Delhi have managed to win only 8 matches.
Ponting said that the match against RR will be important for both the teams. He said, “We need to win this game to qualify in the top-2, which is our aim. We have a lot to play for, tomorrow, and we know that. We want to release the pressure a little bit, but we understand that every game is very difficult to win.
“Rajasthan will come into the match knowing that they have nothing to lose, and they also have a great side. So tomorrow will be a really good contest, but our group is very closely knit and I am looking forward to seeing how the boys bounce back.”
The head coach praised young Shreyas Iyer’s leadership this season,. “Our job is to make the players’ job as easy as possible on the field, and the reason we have won the eight games in this season, is because of the players. They have played at a very high level of intensity, and the credit goes to Shreyas and the boys. He has done a terrific job, he was new to the role when he took over as captain half-way through last season, but I can see on a daily basis that he is growing as a person as well.
He admitted that unavailability of fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was a big loss but hoped that his team will manage well “It was decision that was out of our hands, it was a decision made by Cricket South Africa so we respect that.
Kagiso complained of a stiff back after our last match here in Delhi against RCB, so CSA have taken a precautionary measure for the World Cup. It is a big loss for us obviously, but it is something that we believe that we can cover. We have someone like Trent Boult who was our highest wicket-taker last season, and him coming back into the side will be a huge boost for us.”
About Boult said “He has only played that one game here in Delhi, so it is hard on him if we judge him basis that performance. But saying that, his first two overs the other night against CSK were outstanding where he only conceded two runs. His new ball skills are pretty good, and we are going to work on the death bowling skills in our training session today, and hope that we can hone those skills collectively.”
Ponting was optimistic that his side will put behind the defeat it suffered against CSK, “It shouldn’t be difficult at all. We have played some excellent cricket this season, the boys are very aware of what they can do on the field. I spoke to the boys after the loss, and I feel that if you want to lose a match like that, it has come at the right time. It serves as a reminder to us that we cannot take the foot off the pedal, and we need to focus on our basics, and I am sure that we will bounce back pretty strongly tomorrow.”