"Told me straightaway he was trying for the past 3 years to get me on a trade to DC"- Prabhsimran Singh shares conversation with Ricky Ponting
Punjab Kings (PBKS) wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh shared that head coach Ricky Ponting desired to have him at the Delhi Capitals (DC) for the past three seasons. Ponting was DC's head coach from 2018 to 2024 before parting ways with the franchise after the 2024 season.
PBKS grabbed the opportunity to appoint the former Australian captain as their head coach. The franchise also named Prabhsimran as one of their two retained players, with the other being Shashank Singh.
While the latter was retained for ₹5.5 crore, Prabhsimran was retained for ₹4 crore - both players coming under the Uncapped Player bucket.
Prabhsimran revealed his conversation with Ponting and told Sports Tak:
"He (Ponting) had called me and we had a very good conversation. He told me straightaway he was trying for the past three years to get me on a trade to Delhi Capitals. He then said that he is now very excited to work with me."
"I also told him that I am looking forward to learning a lot of things from him. So now that the franchise has put this kind of faith in me I will try to get as many good starts as possible and win as many matches as I can on my performances," he added.
Ponting is PBKS' sixth head coach in seven seasons as the franchise attempts to turn their dismal IPL history around.
They have qualified for the playoffs only twice in 17 seasons, with PBKS' last playoff appearance coming in 2014.
Prabhsimran Singh has been with PBKS since 2019
PBKS have invested heavily in Prabhsimran Singh despite mixed results since he arrived in 2019.
The 24-year-old played only six matches in his four seasons with the franchise from 2019 to 2022. However, he has been a regular in the playing XI over the past two seasons.
Yet, barring the occasional blitz, Prabhsimran has often flattered to deceive, evidenced by his overall numbers. Despite predominantly batting in the top three, the right-hander has averaged under 25 in 28 games over the past two seasons.
Prabhsimran, however, has scored a healthy strike rate of over 150 in 2023 and 2024 but has struggled to convert his fast starts. The Punjab-born gloveman has scored only three half-centuries and a century in his 34 outings for PBKS.