'Work hard together to turn things around' - Ricky Ponting tries to lift morale of Delhi Capitals after their fifth straight loss in IPL 2023

Ricky Ponting (Image credit: Twitter)

The Delhi Capitals are having a difficult time in the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after suffering their fifth straight defeat in the tournament so far. The 2020 IPL champions fell to the Lucknow Super Giants, Gujarat Titans, Rajasthan Royals, and Mumbai Indians before suffering a 23-run loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their last encounter, dropping them to the bottom of the points table. DC are yet to get off the mark and are struggling to come together as a unit, making their chances of redemption this season doubtful.

David Warner, who replaced Rishabh Pant as DC captain, managed to score a few runs for his team, but the 2016 IPL-winning skipper failed to unite his new team. Delhi has lost their matches by a huge margin, resulting in a poor net run rate of -1.488. Mathematically, their chances of making the playoffs are still alive, but if that is to happen, there will need to be some radical and quick changes within the team. And that is exactly what DC head coach Ricky Ponting tried to do by boosting the players' spirits ahead of their crucial encounter against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

"I want you to go about your own preparations, look at your own vision, work on your own game plan and play it your way. One thing I said about the game, I know you keep on working hard. Keep doing all the right things, then eventually it's going to change. That's the only way we will be able to go forward boys – simple, altogether, as a group, work hard together for each other to turn things around," the former Australia captain said after their loss to RCB.

Don't you ever say sorry to me: Ponting to Kuldeep Yadav

The legendary batter also appreciated their bowlers' efforts in the clash against RCB at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. In his dressing room speech, Ponting mentioned the names and bowling figures of Kuldeep Yadav, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, and Mitchell March and tried to lift them up.

"Kuldeep, where are you mate? Disappointed last game, weren't you? You actually said sorry to me at the end of the game. So mate, don't you ever say sorry to me or anyone for what happens on the cricket field. What I want you to do is bounce back strong and today with 2/23 off four, it was an outstanding spell of bowling. Well done," said Ponting

"Lalit, I thought you did a good job with the ball as well buddy. Two sixes in that one over otherwise the reason we bought you in today was to bowl those hard overs in the Powerplay, just outside it, and you did a great job as well. Axar you were also great. 1/25 off three and our golden boy Mitchell Marsh, who picks up 2/18 of his couple overs as well. So well done," he added.