IPL 2021: “Cricket can still bring a lot of joy to people” – Ricky Ponting talks of the ‘grim’ nature of the COVID-19 pandemic

IPL 2021: “Cricket can still bring a lot of joy to people” – Ricky Ponting talks of the ‘grim’ nature of the COVID-19 pandemic

DC Head Coach Ricky Ponting

Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting has admitted that the situation in India with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic is quite “grim” and has also urged his players to not shy away from having conversations on the same to remain calm.

Ponting said at a post-match press conference, “We right now are probably the safest people in the country being in the bubbles that we are in. Continuously, I’m asking the boys at breakfast every day how’s  everything , going on the outside, how’s family, is your family safe? Is family happy?”

“And look I think that’s a really important thing and we talk here at the Delhi Capitals about being one big family. It is really important. We are thinking about the extended family, not just us, but we’ve got to be talking about what’s happening outside because it is quite grim,” he added.

Ricky Ponting speaks on the difficulty of dealing with bio-bubbles

Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting

Continuing about the difficulty of remaining in bio-bubbles, “Yes, it is hard for the players to be away from their families. I can’t imagine, even if I put myself in this situation, guys that live in Chennai are actually home now, but can’t see their families. It must be incredibly difficult,” said Ponting.

“So the more we can share these experiences, the better off we are. The people that aren’t from India, we can be talking to the locals about what they are going through. We will just keep our fingers crossed. And hope people remain safe. That’s a big thing for me, the players are taking the best care of their families where they can from the outside. And we look after what we can do here,” Ponting added.

“Even with the country being in a situation that it is, I think cricket can still bring a lot of joy to people. So it is important for us to be doing what we can as cricketers and as coaches and as a franchise to putting on the best show as possible to give the people something that they’d like to see,” he signed off.

DC are currently in the 2nd spot on the points table and will face Royal Challengers Bangalore on Tuesday.

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