Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting wary of travel fatigue in IPL

Delhi Capitals’ coach Ricky Ponting is wary of the fatigue due to travel that will challenge his players at the Delhi Capitals during this season’s Indian Premier League (IPL) as the tournament returns to the old home-and-away format after three years.

“It will be harder on the players with much more travel in this IPL. But this is part and parcel of franchise cricket. I think more travelling makes the tournament more exciting. We’ll get to play in a lot of different venues and in front of many different groups of fans,” said Ponting in a statement issued by the Delhi Capitals franchise.

Ever since Ponting took charge of DC in 2018, the Delhi franchise has put up improved performances.

In the six seasons from 2013 to 2018, the franchise could not advance from the league stage finishing last in three of those editions and second last once.

But from 2019 onwards, with Ponting’s guidance at hand, the Delhi franchise has done extremely well.

The team entered playoffs – last four stage – in 2019, 2020 (finishing runners-up) and 2021. Last year though, they ended in the fifth place.

This year, they will be looking to do better but the absence of Rishabh Pant, who is out injured, will hurt them. Ponting is hoping that the talismanic wicketkeeper-batsman is involved in the camp in some capacity or the other.

“I have spoken to Rishabh a bit. We are hoping to get him involved this season. I’d love to have him at all our home games. Having him in our dugout or our change room will be very special,” said Ponting further.

Veteran Australia opening batsman David Warner will lead this season in the absence of Pant.

“David Warner will do a great job. He has been a successful franchise cricket captain in the past. He is excited to lead the team as well,” added Ponting.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly also returns to the Delhi camp as Director of Cricket. The duo – Ponting and Ganguly – had worked together with the Delhi franchise in 2019.

Delhi Capitals will face Lucknow Super Giants in their first game of IPL 2023 on April 1 in Lucknow.

DC’s schedule of matches in 2023 season:

April 1 — vs Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow

April 4 – vs Gujarat Titans in Delhi

April 8 – vs Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati

April 11 – vs Mumbai Indians in Delhi

April 15 – vs Royal Challenger Bangalore in Bengaluru

April 20 – vs Kolkata Knight Riders in Delhi

April 24 – vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad

April 29 – vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in Delhi

May 2 – vs Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad

May 6 – vs Royal Challengers Bangalore in Delhi

May 10 – vs Chennai Super Kings in Chennai

May 13 – vs Punjab Kings in Delhi

May 17 – vs Punjab Kings in Dharamsala

May 20 – vs Chennai Super Kings in Delhi

Delhi Capitals squad: Yash Dhull, Sarfaraz Khan, Kuldeep Yadav, Lalit Yadav, Mitchell Marsh, Mukesh Kumar, Mustafizur Rahman, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Vicky Ostwal, Manish Pandey, Ripal Patel, Axar Patel, Rovman Powell, Rilee Rossouw, Chetan Sakariya, Phil Salt, Ishant Sharma, Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Abhishek Porel, Khaleel Ahmed, Aman Hakim Khan, Praveen Dubey.