IPL 2023: Having Rishabh Pant in dugout will be special, Delhi Capitals' Head Coach Ricky Ponting

The Delhi Capitals' Head Coach Ricky Ponting has been busy getting the team ready for the IPL 2023 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi in the past week.

The Capitals will be missing their captain Rishabh Pant this season as the Indian player is out injured after a horrific accident last year. Pant has been replaced by David Warner as the Australian will lead the Delhi side this season.

But Ponting says he wants Pant to be involved in the Delhi setup in this IPL, albeit not as a player, but he expects the southpaw to have his presence in Delhi's home games this season.

When asked about the change of guard in leadership for this season, Ponting said, "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."

"However, David Warner will do a great job. He has been a successful franchise cricket captain in the past. He's excited to lead the team as well," he added.

Pant replaced by Abhihek Porel

Amid Rishabh Pant's absence, Delhi Capitals have roped in 20-year-old Bengal wicketkeeper Abhishek Porel as Pant's replacement. The southpaw has been a decent performer for Bengal in domestic cricket and scored over 300 runs for them in Ranji Trophy.

Ponting also spoke about working with DC Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly. The two familiar foes of yesteryears are reunited at the Delhi Capitals again, with Ganguly with his new role. And Ponting says the former BCCI president had a chat with him regarding the team strategies and combination.

"I have spoken to Sourav about the players we've got, possible line-ups, possible keepers and things like that. He has always got some good things to say to the players during training. It was a lot of fun to work with him in 2019 and we won a lot of games," Ponting continued.

The Delhi Capitals will take on Lucknow Super Giants in their first game of IPL 2023 on Saturday (April 1). The Delhi team have never won an IPL, and their women's team came close to winning the WPL in the inaugural season, but were beaten finalists as Mumbai Indians women's team lifted the trophy.