“His first IPL coach…”- Ricky Ponting reacts to pleading to retain this former Delhi Capitals player in IPL  

The former coach of the Delhi Capitals (DC), Ricky Ponting, revealed his prediction that Indian opener Abhishek Sharma will become the leading run-getter from the T20 World Cup 2026. He looked at the time in 2018 when they were together in the Delhi Capitals, as he had tried to convince the franchise owners to hold onto the southpaw and not let him go. 

Abhishek Sharma, who made a thrilling 19-ball 46* in his IPL debut, smashed 63 runs in his first season before being traded to the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The left-handed batter’s first breakthrough season came in 2022 for the Orange Army, where he notched up 426 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 133.12, thanks to two fifties.

See Also: Watch: USA players enjoy ‘golgappa’ after T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up fixture vs India A 

“I was his first IPL coach. He debuted with me, I think, as a 17-year-old at 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 expressed on ‘ICC review.’

Ricky Ponting makes massive prediction on Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek’s numbers since his T20I debut are incredibly impressive, with 1297 runs in 37 innings at an average of 37.05 and a strike rate of 194.74, shouldering on eight half-centuries and two centuries at the best score of 135 runs.

“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 addressed.

“(It’s) a real positive to be honest. He can be the leading run-scorer and potentially the Player of the Tournament. That's how good I think he is. And if he does, that makes India even harder to beat. If he doesn't, then they're as vulnerable as anybody else. So that's how important I think he is to this World Cup for India.” The former World Cup-winning captain concluded.