Delhi Capitals Coach Ricky Ponting Considers Rishabh Pant as 'successful' Future India Skipper

He has already groomed two future India captains namely Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant. With regard to the latter, Ponting believes that he will make a successful Indian captain if the responsibility lands on him ever. 

Pant's Experience in IPL Captaincy

In the 2021 edition, Rishabh Pant replaced skipper Shreyas Iyer during his injury phase. The Delhi Capitals were managed by a team led by Ponting, who had full faith in him. "With some experience in a role like this in such a high-pressure tournament like the IPL, you know, I've got no doubt in years to come there is every chance that Risabh could be international captain. No doubt about it," Ponting quipped during a virtual media interaction before their IPL 2015 opener against Mumbai Indians.

Before becoming the head coach to Delhi Capitals, Ponting had honed Rohit Sharma from 2013 to 2016 and helped the Mumbai Indians win two IPL titles. Rohit then took over India's captaincy in at least two formats. Pant's future seems to be on a similar path. In a public statement, Ponting said, "I think there's every opportunity for Rishabh's journey to be similar to Rohit Sharma's. He's a young captain of a successful franchise and growing on a daily basis and hopefully, Rishabh can have the same sort of success Rohit's had at the Mumbai Indians. 

Ponting further stated, "And then with some experience in a role like this in a high-pressure tournament like the IPL, I've got no doubt in the years to come there's every chance that Rishabh could be an international captain. No doubt about it." Pant was handed over the baton in 2021 after Shreyas Iyer was afflicted with a shoulder injury. The Delhi Daredevils bought Pant during the 2016 auction. Since then, the young star has played 84 games for them and secured 2498 runs while averaging 35.18. He will soon take over as a long-term captain.

Pant's Growth Over the Years

Ponting has spent five years with the franchise so he has overseen Pant's growth, both as a player and individual. The former Australian captain revealed, "His evolution - not just the last one year, this is my fifth season now at the Delhi Capitals - and his evolution as a player and as a person has been quite dramatic. Last couple of years with some more responsibility in and around the Indian team, and captaining the Delhi Capitals last season, there's a lot of learning experiences for him through the last 12-18 months for him which will keep helping him become a better leader and person on a daily basis."

The 47-year-old Australian further stated, "There's no doubt that his maturity in the last 12-18 months with his play and also with his leadership and captaincy has been outstanding. It's a big part of my job as well to try and help and guide him and push Rishabh in the right direction where I can. But saying that, he's got a very good grasp on what leadership is all about because he's been in successful teams and he's been under strong leaders in the past. It's up to me, if there's anything I can help him with, I'll do it along the way." Ponting is now aiming to help Pant lift the IPL trophy two months from now and is hopeful of a good start to the league.