IPL 2018 | Ricky Ponting is total opposite of Rahul Dravid as a coach, says Shreyas Iyer

04/03/2018

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Delhi Daredevil batsman Shreyas Iyer opens up about the differences in behavior between former coach Rahul Dravid and present coach and former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting. Iyer believes that new skipper Gautam Gambhir will bring in the much-needed leadership experience the side lacked earlier.

The Delhi Daredevils franchise has been a part of the Indian Premier League since it began in 2008 but have not really achieved the success of teams such as Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders. Things could be different this time around though, with a new-look team - headed by two-time IPL winning captain and former KKR player Gautam Gambhir under the guidance of former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting - hope to achieve great things in the upcoming tournament which is scheduled to being on April 7.

However, Indian batsman Shreyas Iyer, who has played for DD for the past three seasons, was quick to point out that the transition from former coach Rahul Dravid to Ricky Ponting was a smooth process. Iyer claimed the duo are the exact opposite of each other as far as their coaching methods were concerned.

"Both (Ponting and Dravid) are equally good in their way. Dravid is more calm and cool, he nurtures the kids. Ricky is pretty opposite but both have the same frame of mind. He said that 'we are here to win'. His frame of mind was pretty much about winning, not about the process," Iyer told PTI.

"He has got his own way of preparing every youngster and though it has been just three days, we all know that we will get to learn a lot from him. Normally, everybody comes in and talks a lot about process and but this guy had just one thing in his mind and that was to win."

The DD management have put together a strong squad as they picked up the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Colin Munro, Jason Roy to boost their line-up with power-hitters after they chose to retain Chris Morris, Rishabh Pant and Iyer himself. India colts skipper Prithvi Shaw, Manjot Kalra, and Abhishek Sharma were the youngsters who were added to the side with one eye on the future of the team. After the session with Ponting, Iyer said that it has pumped up the energy among the younger players in the side.

"It has been really good with (Ponting so far). He has been pretty aggressive. He has got that positive frame of mind. When he came in and gave a speech to all of us, it really fired us, we almost had goosebumps," Iyer added.

Iyer believed that Delhi-boy Gautam Gambhir will bring in the much-needed leadership experience to the side and expressed his admiration for the left-handed opener.

"It is really helpful to have Gambhir as well.He has got tremendous experience and led KKR to title twice. He's really good in building the rapport with the youngsters,"

"He asks us to play our own game and not necessarily change our technique or skill. He has his way of preparing youngsters. It has just been three or four days since he has come in, we will get to learn a lot," Iyer said.

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