Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting has come out in support of Rishabh Pant following the team’s five-wicket defeat against Mumbai Indians on Saturday (May 21). It was indeed a heartbreaking loss for DC as a win by any margin would have propelled them to the IPL 2022 playoffs. Moreover, MI endured a horrendous campaign this season and were the last-placed team in the points table.

With these many odds in their favour, the Capitals looked favourites to clinch this fixture. However, it wasn’t their day as MI ended their campaign on a high. Meanwhile, DC have no one but themselves to blame as some judgmental and fielding errors cost them the game. Pant had dropped the in-form Dewald Brevis and the young South African did some further damage.

Another big mistake DC committed was not taking a review against Tim David. The dasher had edged the ball to Pant early in his innings but neither the umpire nor the wicketkeeper was able to identify the dismissal. David made the Capitals pay as he smashed an 11-ball 34 to seal the game for his team. Needless to mention, these blunders earned Pant a lot of criticism, and his leadership credentials were also questioned.

Ponting, however, reckons the wicketkeeper-batter is the right man to lead the Delhi-based team. “Absolutely, no doubt in my mind that Rishabh even in the last season he was the right choice for captain. Rishabh did a terrific job with the team after he took over from Shreyas (Iyer) after he injured his shoulders,” Ponting said during the press conference after DC lost by five wickets against MI.

“He is just a young man and still learning captaincy. Being captain of a T20 team, especially in IPL, which is a high pressure tournament, is not easy thing to do and unfortunately, every single thing you do will be scrutinised. He certainly got my full backing.”

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