'Everything about it was wrong' - Ricky Ponting opens up on DC-RR no-ball row

It was only during the last week when Delhi Capitals found themselves amid huge controversy for their actions in the match against Rajasthan Royals. The bone of contention was Obed McCoy bowling a high full-toss which wasn’t adjudged a no-ball by the on-field umpires. It only took a spur of the moment for Rishabh Pant to lose his cool as he was seen calling back his players from the field.

In the same light, head coach Ricky Ponting has criticized the actions being brought on the field by his team members. He called all the actions related to the sequence wrong and added that there is a way to deal with umpires even if their call is wrong. The matter got more ignited when assistant coach Pravin Amre ran on to the field to have a heated discussion with the umpires.

“It was all wrong, everything about it was wrong. The umpire was wrong but you have got to get on with it. For our players to demonstrate what they did and to have our assistant coach run onto the field, it’s not anything we are happy with or proud of. I have spoken to the guys about that,” said Ponting while speaking to Star Sports.

That was a lion in the sand moment for us: Ricky Ponting

Ponting further threw light on what could have pushed his side to behave that way as DC have been through some tough times of late. The Australian cricketer stated that they have had COVID-19 cases in the camp with players being locked in rooms and it was all just added frustration that got the better of them on that particular night. However, they wish to move on with a better attitude as the IPL moves into the second half of the season.

“But KP (Kevin Pietersen), we have had a pretty tough time at DC over the last few weeks. We have had Covid cases, we have been locked in the hotel room and, I think, just all the frustration that built up. It was a close game and it all just came out there at that moment.”

“That was a lion in the sand moment for us, it was the halfway time of the tournament. We said we would leave all that behind and move to the second half of the tournament with a better attitude,” Ponting concluded.