DC vs RR | Twitter reacts as Ponting's ignorance of Impact Player rules leave him livid on sidelines

03/28/2024

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Cricket has seen its fair share of an irked Ricky Ponting harrowing opponents and umpires but few would have expected the scenario to play out in 2024. The Delhi Capitals head coach engaged in a feverous debate with the fourth official that led to a brief halt in play owing to a misunderstanding.

D‌elhi Capitals were left with 186 to chase at the end of the first innings in Jaipur after an inspired Riyan Parag unbeaten knock of 84 from 45 deliveries rescued Rajasthan Royals from a bothersome situation. The Australian pair of David Warner and Mitchell Marsh walked out to open for the visitors in response but their rhythm was interrupted by a halt in play after just two deliveries, courtesy of a protest raised by their head coach Ricky Ponting.

The Royals had brought in Proteas pacer Nandre Burger as an Impact Player for Shimron Hetmyer after the innings break having started the game with just the Caribbean batter, Trent Boult, and Jos Buttler as their overseason players in their lineup. However, the issue arose when Rovman Powell was called onto the field as a substitute fielder by the home side, with Ponting alleging that would make the West Indian the fifth overseas player for Rajasthan. Debate soon broke out in the middle as well with Warner, Buttler, and umpire Nitin Menon engaging in conversation while Ponting laid out his grievances. Eventually, Powell was allowed to come into the field even though Ponting continued with his fit of rage in the dugout.

A few deliveries later, the fourth official retrieved the team sheets and explained to the former Australian skipper that the Royals had subbed one foreigner for another, which meant they still had just four overseas players on the field. While the clarification did little to calm down Ponting, it did offer Twitterati great amusement.

Game stopped!

pic.twitter.com/gIRq1HPKqj
— Debi Cha (@ChaDebi95756) March 28, 2024

Ponting is not happy!

pic.twitter.com/VbTZ0K8omp
— Debi Cha (@ChaDebi95756) March 28, 2024

Umpire explaining stuff!

pic.twitter.com/UgqvCv4nJg
— Debi Cha (@ChaDebi95756) March 28, 2024

Frustrated umpire!

Lol there's nothing with the RR's impact sub, Ponting is so frustrated after what happened in the 2nd phase of the first innings.
— arfan (@Im__Arfan) March 28, 2024

Lafda

Lafda in IPL and who would have imagined Ricky Ponting and Sourav Ganguly would be the tag team partners 😄#IPL2024 #RRvDC pic.twitter.com/Cn0z0q38Mh
— Vinesh Prabhu (@vlp1994) March 28, 2024

How can you?

How can you have 5 overseas players, is that’s what Ponting is saying?
— shivam (@shivvamm8) March 28, 2024

Dumbo

Dumb Ponting didn't even knew overseas Impact rule
— Arun (@_iArun__) March 28, 2024

Wrong

DC and Ponting have got it wrong here. They argued with 4th umpire that there should be 4 foreigners on the field, Powell came in as substitute fielder. RR did the right thing as they started with only 3 foreign players. Now it looks like 5 foreigners have played for RR #RRvsDC
— Badrinath Kannan (@badri121284) March 28, 2024

He should

Atleast this time ponting should take his team to the playoffs . He failed miserably in the last two season as a DC coach. #RRvDC
— Sura (@vasanthsk2) March 28, 2024

Cry