IPL 2022: When Ricky Ponting broke remote controls during DC’s controversial match against Rajasthan Royals!

The Delhi Capitals lost to Rajasthan Royals by 15 runs in their chase of 223 runs, last week.

Controversy arose in the last over when DC needed 36 runs to win and Rovman Powell started by smashing three consecutive sixes to Obed McCoy. The third delivery came off a high full toss from the bowler and the on-field umpires decided to not call it a no-ball. The Delhi camp seemed upset about the on-field umpire’s decision of not seeking help from the third umpire as it would have given them an extra run and a free hit.

Frustrated by the decision captain Rishabh Pant asked the two batsmen, Kuldeep Yadav and Rovman Powell to leave the field. Assistant coach Pravin Amre breached the rule and entered the ground to speak to the umpires. This further led to a fine of 100 per cent match fee to both the captain and the Assistant coach with the latter’s ban from the next match.

DC’s head coach Ricky Ponting who was in a five-day quarantine at that time said he too wasn’t happy with what was going on during the match.

‘Broke remote controls during quarantine’

Sharing his experience of watching the team’s previous match from quarantine, Ponting said, “It was frustrating. I think I broke three or four remote controls and a few bottles of water might have got thrown into the walls and things like that (laughs).

“When you’re on the sidelines, being a coach and you can’t control what’s happening out in the middle, that’s hard enough, but when you’re not actually at the ground, it can get a little more frustrating.

The Australian re-joined the squad at training after completing his precautionary room isolation after a family member had tested positive for COVID-19.

“I feel pretty relieved to be back outside again, actually after another five days locked in, and obviously missing the game,” he said. “Things didn’t go well in the game, we had a drama at the end. But, it’s nice to be back outside again.”

“There’s no doubt we’ve had it tougher than the other teams so far,” he said, on the COVID cases in the Delhi Capitals bio-bubble last week.

“Hopefully, we throw that COVID stuff now and are on the other side. And it’s probably a really good definitive cut-off point – the halfway time of the season. We can reassess and readjust and get on with, hopefully, dominating the second half of this tournament.” 

All Delhi Capitals need is a little bit of momentum to get their IPL campaign back on track as they are “too good a team for the results not to change”, feels head coach Ricky Ponting.

With three wins and four losses in the first seven matches of the season, Delhi Capitals are currently seventh in the points table.

Reflecting on the first half of the season, Ponting said, “I’ve said it a few times this year where there’s 36 or 37 overs of really good stuff, and we just let it slip for two or three overs.

“And, that’s the difference in these games. We sort of gear ourselves to not overtrain in the first part of the season, try and build up along the way. But our performances have been win one, lose one, win one. So, we need to start getting that little bit of momentum.”

Ponting warned his players against trying “too hard” in the second half of IPL.

“I know we’re so close to turning it all around. We’ve all got to trust, we’ve got to believe, we’ve got to stay upbeat and positive. And if we are, things will definitely change for us.

“The harder we try from here, the harder it’s going to get. We’re just going to stay nice and relax and keep repeating things we’ve been doing. And then results will definitely come our way. We are too good a team for the results not to change,” he said ahead of Thursday’s game against Kolkata Knight Riders