IPL 2018: Rishabh Pant’s batting promotion hurt Glenn Maxwell - Delhi Daredevils coach Ricky Ponting

Delhi Daredevils (DD) coach Ricky Ponting has stated that a major reason why Glenn Maxwell failed to fire in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season was because of the exemplary form of young Indian sensation Rishabh Pant.

“I think the thing that hurt him the most is just how well Rishabh played,” Ponting was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. “Before the first game I had (Glenn) Maxwell pencilled in as our No. 4 batsman. He missed the first game for personal reasons obviously, with Aaron Finch’s wedding, which meant Rishabh batted at No. 4 in game one and played well. When Glenn came back into the side he batted at five which is probably a position that he hasn’t played that much.”

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However, Ponting might have been mistaken as Pant didn’t bat at No 4 in the first game against Kings XI Punjab. It was Vijay Shankar who had stepped in at that position. Pant had come at No 5 and scored a 13-ball 28 before failing to Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Pant is currently the leading run-getter of the season with 684 runs, including five half-centuries and a knock of 128 off 63 deliveries. But that went in vain as his side finished at the bottom of the table for the fourth time in IPL history.

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In stark contrast, Maxwell, who at ₹9 crore was Delhi’s costliest player from the auctions held prior to the tournament, has only managed to score 169 runs this season. “Having spoken to (Maxwell) a few times through the tournament, he just said he felt frustrated that he hadn’t been able to make an impact on the result of the game for his team,” Ponting said. “He’s an outstanding cricketer there’s no doubt about that, he’s had a disappointing IPL this season.”