Ricky Ponting Calls Out Delhi Capitals' Performance as "Unacceptable" After Heavy Loss to KKR
Delhi Capitals Suffer a Humiliating Defeat, Ponting and Pant Reflect on Team Shortcomings and Penalties
Following the "unacceptable" and "embarrassing" 106-run thrashing at the hands of the Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday, head coach Ricky Ponting of the Delhi Capitals blasted his team.
The Capitals had a dismal performance here, giving up 272 runs in the first 20 overs and being bowled out for 166 in 17.2 overs, which was one of their worst losses in IPL history.
"Our first half of the game almost embarrassed us," Ponting said afterwards at the press conference.
"To give up that many runs, we bowled 17 wides and needed two hours to complete our overs." We were therefore once more two overs behind, which means that the players who bowl the final two overs got to do it with just four fielders outside the circle."
As a result, captain Rishabh Pant received a punishment of Rs 24 lakh for his second overrate infraction during the current IPL.
Whether it was with the ball or the bat, the Capitals never appeared to be in the game, buckling under the enormous total. "A lot of unacceptable things happened during this game, and as a group, we will discuss a lot of things that we need to address right away in order to go on in the tournament. Without a doubt, there will be some worthwhile open talks in the locker room, according to Ponting.
Delhi's cause was not helped by Pant's occasional refusal to go for review; one such instance was Sunil Narine, whose 85 off 39 balls set the stage for KKR. Mitch Marsh was confident that Narine had edged the ball off Ishant Sharma when the latter was batting on 24. However, Pant had run out of time by the time he decided to take the review.
"It was really noisy outside. The timer wasn't visible to me on the screen either. The screen was having some issues, Pant said.
"These are little things at the end of the day," Ponting remarked. "There are other bigger concerns for us with the way we bowled, some of the field placings we had set and just how long it's taking us to get around."
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