Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach Ricky Ponting said his team is looking to make each training session count rather than piling on a number of them in the scorching UAE heat ahead of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), starting September 19.
Ponting supervised his first practise session with the side on Tuesday (September 1) after spending six days in quarantine upon arrival in Dubai.
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The legendary former Australia captain and batsman said weather conditions in the gulf being a huge challenge, the team management is keeping a track on how players shape up after each session, because that will decide the number of following hours spent at training.
"We've got a smaller squad so I want to sort of manage our training sessions differently than we did last year. I've made it clear to the boys that we are not going to over-train in the first three weeks," Ponting said in a team statement.
"I believe our preparation leading up to the first game is critical. I want to make sure that physically, technically and tactically the boys are peaking for the first game."
"It is an unusual time we have got - having three weeks - I think we had slotted in about 20 training sessions before our first game, which in my opinion are too many, so we are just going to see how the boys are shaping up after every training session and then take it from there," he added.
Ponting's positive influence was evident when the Delhi franchise reached the play-offs after seven years in IPL 2019. The coach said it is important for everyone, including skipper Shreyas Iyer, to remember the things they did right and keep those good habits intact to take a step further and win the trophy this time.
"I want to make sure we can replicate that this season as well," said Ponting. "I think it's really important that when you have success, you understand why you have it. I'll be banking on the guys we still have from last year - it's important for them to remember the positives."
"If they can impose that on the younger and new guys in the team, before you know it, you're going to have this really infectious attitude around the team again which is what I'm all about as a coach."
Ponting also touched upon the inclusion of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane to the set-up. The Capitals traded the two experienced cricketers from Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of the auction in December. Apart from being quality players, Ashwin and Rahane bring valuable experience to the squad.
"Both of them are class players, and have been long-term Indian players. Ashwin has been one of the most successful spinners in IPL history, and Rahane has led Rajasthan for a long time as well," said Ponting.
"They have all sorts of skill, class and experience which they'll add to our squad. We all know how important experience is in T20 cricket, and we understand that."
"We've got a young captain in Shreyas (Iyer), but to have those older, more experienced minds on the ground will help us a lot," he signed off.
(Inputs from PTI)
