Ricky Ponting declines India coach role. Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has declined the opportunity to become the head coach of the Indian national cricket team.
Ponting revealed his decision during a recent discussion with the International Cricket Council (ICC), citing that the long-term commitment of the role did not align with his current lifestyle and responsibilities.
Ponting’s decision follows Rahul Dravid’s resignation as India’s head coach, which led the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to set a May 27 deadline for coaching applications.
Among the candidates considered for the prestigious position, Ponting was a standout due to his extensive cricketing experience and successful coaching stints.
Currently, Ponting juggles multiple high-profile roles within the cricketing world.
He serves as the head coach for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket (MLC).
RICKY PONTING CONFIRMS HE WAS APPROACHED BY THE BCCI FOR THE HEAD COACH POST. 🇮🇳
– Ponting has declined the offer as he doesn’t want to stay away from his family. pic.twitter.com/N42iddMWNC
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 23, 2024
Additionally, he is involved in media work with an Australian TV channel and holds a strategic position with the Hobart Hurricanes.
Addressing the ICC Review, Ponting clarified the situation: “I’ve seen a lot of reports about it. Normally these things pop up on social media before you even know about them, but there were a few one-on-one conversations during the IPL to gauge my interest.”
Despite his interest in coaching a national team, Ponting highlighted several reasons for his decision to decline the offer.
He pointed out the extensive time commitment required for a national head coach, which typically involves 10 to 11 months of work annually.
Moreover, accepting the role would necessitate stepping away from IPL coaching, a sacrifice Ponting is not ready to make.
“I’d love to be a senior coach of a national team, but with the other things that I have in my life and wanting to have a bit of time at home… everyone knows if you take a job working with the Indian team you can’t be involved in an IPL team, so it would take that out of it as well,” Ponting explained. “Also, a national head coach is a 10 or 11-month-a-year job, and as much as I’d like to do it, it just doesn’t fit into my lifestyle right now and the things that I really enjoy doing.”
Ponting is not the only high-profile name linked to the India coaching job.
Other notable figures include Justin Langer and Stephen Fleming, both of whom are also IPL coaches. Additionally, Gautam Gambhir’s name has recently emerged as a potential candidate.
Ponting acknowledged these speculations, saying, “I’ve seen a few other names thrown about as well. Justin Langer’s name got thrown in yesterday, Stephen Fleming’s name has been mentioned a bit, and Gautam Gambhir’s name has been circulated in the last couple of days. But I think it’d be unlikely for me just for the reasons I’ve given.”
As Ricky Ponting declines India coach role, interestingly, Ponting’s family was enthusiastic about the potential move.
“My family and my kids have spent the last five weeks over at the IPL with me and they come over every year. I mentioned the offer to my son [Fletcher], and he said, ‘Just take it, Dad. We would love to move over there for the next couple of years,'” Ponting shared. “That’s how much they love being over there and the culture of cricket in India, but right now it probably doesn’t exactly fit into my lifestyle.”
