‘Excited to be back in IPL’
1 April 2013 1:51 AM GMT
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is very keen to put his best foot forward both as skipper and player for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, the tournament in which he took part only for a while in its inaugural edition in 2008.
‘Obviously, I am very excited to be back in IPL. I said when I had finished playing last time, hopefully I will be able to come back and play again. The way things have worked out, with my retirement from international cricket and finishing off the domestic season for Tasmania and playing well, have given me the opportunity to be back here,’ said the Aussie at his first media conference on Sunday.
He said retirement from the hectic international schedule has given him time to concentrate on T20 leagues. ‘The reason I did not come back to IPL 2 and 3 was because I had too much international cricket on at that time. And now that I don’t have international cricket, the opportunities for me to play in these domestic tournaments are really opening up.
Ponting is very excited to be playing alongside Sachin Tendulkar, against whom he has played many times at the international level. ‘To be captain of any franchise is exciting but to think I will be playing alongside Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh, some of the guys I have had great battles over the years, as well as some of my Australian teammates and some of the young local Indian talent I have come across in the last couple of days is great.
‘MONKEYGATE’ WON’T AFFECT MI: PONTING
Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting on Sunday assured that the infamous ‘Monkeygate’ episode won’t have an effect on the Mumbai Indians dressing room. ‘No, no. We are all friends for the next few months. That’s one thing I have made very clear to the guys already. Sachin and Harbhajan have not been around the team yet. We will meet up with those guys. We are one, the Mumbai Indians are one,’ said Ponting, adding, ‘I want to play well and captain the side well. I will not leave any stone unturned as far as preparation of team is concerned and ensure that everything we do is for one another.’
‘Obviously, I am very excited to be back in IPL. I said when I had finished playing last time, hopefully I will be able to come back and play again. The way things have worked out, with my retirement from international cricket and finishing off the domestic season for Tasmania and playing well, have given me the opportunity to be back here,’ said the Aussie at his first media conference on Sunday.
He said retirement from the hectic international schedule has given him time to concentrate on T20 leagues. ‘The reason I did not come back to IPL 2 and 3 was because I had too much international cricket on at that time. And now that I don’t have international cricket, the opportunities for me to play in these domestic tournaments are really opening up.
Ponting is very excited to be playing alongside Sachin Tendulkar, against whom he has played many times at the international level. ‘To be captain of any franchise is exciting but to think I will be playing alongside Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh, some of the guys I have had great battles over the years, as well as some of my Australian teammates and some of the young local Indian talent I have come across in the last couple of days is great.
‘MONKEYGATE’ WON’T AFFECT MI: PONTING
Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting on Sunday assured that the infamous ‘Monkeygate’ episode won’t have an effect on the Mumbai Indians dressing room. ‘No, no. We are all friends for the next few months. That’s one thing I have made very clear to the guys already. Sachin and Harbhajan have not been around the team yet. We will meet up with those guys. We are one, the Mumbai Indians are one,’ said Ponting, adding, ‘I want to play well and captain the side well. I will not leave any stone unturned as far as preparation of team is concerned and ensure that everything we do is for one another.’
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