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"Please don’t do this": Ricky Ponting reveals he urged Delhi Capitals not to trade Abhishek Sharma to SRH
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has made his glowing endorsement of Indian power-hitter Abhishek Sharma ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup, believing the Indian opener is primed for a breakout global tournament. Ponting further predicted that Abhishek could finish as the competition’s highest run-scorer — and possibly walk away with the Player of the Tournament award.
Ponting’s confidence in Abhishek comes from years of close observation.
Ponting had already identified his potential during their time together at Delhi Capitals in the IPL back in 2018. Ponting also revealed that he actively urged the Delhi Capitals management to retain Abhishek, saying that patience would be rewarded.
“I was his first IPL coach. He debuted with me, I think as a 17-year-old at Delhi and made an immediate impact,” Ponting said on the ICC review.
He debuted with me, I think as a 17-year-old in Delhi and made an immediate impact. I think he hit his first ball for four or six straight back over the bowler's head with that classical sort of straight bat and held the pose. And you could just see then as a 17-year-old that there was something extra special,” Ponting said.
Despite Ponting's request, Delhi Capitals traded Abhishek Sharma to Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of the 2019 season of the IPL.
“We ended up trading him away from Delhi, but I pleaded and pleaded and pleaded and said, please don’t do this. We’ve got to (keep him), there’s an absolute superstar in the making here, and that’s what it’s turned out to be. I’ve got really high hopes for him this time,” Ponting stated.
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