Ricky Ponting news leaves cricket fans saddened after 'incredibly hard' decision revealed

The Delhi Capitals have parted ways with coach Ricky Ponting, ending the former Australian Test captain's seven-year reign in charge of the Indian Premier League franchise. The 57-year-old is widely regarded as one of the great minds in the sport, with his punditry analysis viewed as some of the sharpest in the world.

But on Saturday, the Capitals announced Ponting would not return as coach in 2025 after failing to guide the team to the finals in the past three IPL campaigns. “As you move on as our head coach, we’re finding it incredibly hard to put this down in words,” the Capitals posted to Twitter.

“The four things you told us about in every huddle – care, commitment, attitude and effort – they sum up our seven summers together. Seven summers of you being hands-on, but also hands-off, so that we could become better. As athletes, yes, but more importantly, as human beings. Seven summers of you reaching every training session first, and leaving last.

"Seven summers of you sprinting out of the dugout during strategic timeouts and biting your nails off until there were none left. Seven summers of your dressing room speeches the speeches. Seven summers of your hugs, shoulder pats and fist pumps for us all — newcomer, superstar … and everyone in between.” After the news broke the cricket world and Capitals fans were quick to thank Ponting for what he had done with the franchise despite many feeling shocked by the decision.

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Ponting’s contract ended this year and after releasing a statement about his release, the Capitals edited its social media post to clarify that it was their decision to axe the coach. The legendary Aussie batsman was appointed as Delhi's head coach in January 2018, leading the franchise to the playoffs in 2019, 2020 and 2021. The Capitals are yet to announce Ponting’s successor.

Ponting is currently coaching the Washington Freedom in the second edition of Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States. He is also still employed as the head of strategy for Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League (BBL) and is one of the chief commentators on the Seven Network's free-to-air cricket coverage in Australia. Ponting has also previously been linked with international coaching jobs with Australia and England.

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Ricky Ponting focussed on Washington Freedom success

Ponting is currently trying to lift the Freedom to a MLC title. The coup of Ponting ahead of this season was seen as a huge step in the right direction for the MLC with his name power bringing commercial and public relations success and also helping to attract some of the great cricketers of the modern game to the competition.

India's influence in the fledgling US-based competition is evidenced by the fact three out of the six teams share part of their names with IPL franchises. Aussie states have also shown a willingness to form strategic partnerships with the US sides, with Cricket Victoria aligning itself with the San Francisco Unicorns and Queensland Cricket announcing a collaboration with the Seattle Orcas.

Cricket NSW also share a partnership with the Freedom, with Greg Shipperd instrumental in bringing Ponting onboard. The Aussie coach led the Washington side in its inaugural season and recently took over as the NSW state coach, having managed the Sydney Sixers since 2015 in the BBL. Five games into the 2024 MLC season and the Freedom are sitting third, with three wins from five matches.