IPL 2024: Mitchell Marsh Isn’t Coming Back To India For Rest Of Tournament, Confirms Head Coach Ricky Ponting
The Australian all-rounder played four games in IPL 2024 for Delhi Capitals and scored 61 runs and took a single wicket.
New Delhi: Delhi Capitals won’t get the services of Mitchell Marsh for the remainder of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), head coach Ricky Ponting confirmed on Monday during the franchise’s media day in the Capital. The Australian all-rounder flew back to Perth on April 12 to consult with Cricket Australia’s medical staff after suffering a niggle during the ongoing tournament. Marsh’s return to Australia came for the betterment of the player as the 32-year-old remains a key concern for his franchise and the national team. Notably, Marsh is expected to lead Australia in the T20 World Cup 2024 that is set to start in the USA and West Indies from June 1.
“I don’t think he’ll be coming back,” Ponting said. “There’s a certain cut-off point with replacement players. Cricket Australia were keen to have him at home to start his recovery process and we sent him back as soon as we could,” Ponting said.
Although Australia have Pat Cummins, who won them the WTC and the ODI World Cup last year, at their disposal, the Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper is yet to lead his national side in a T20I game. To add more to that, Marsh has been leading Australia in T20Is since Aaron Finch retired and is the their go-to choice for leading the side in the mega extravaganza.
Statistically, Marsh has 1432 runs at an average of 34.09 and a strike rate of 135.34 in T20Is for Australia. A hard-hitting batter, Marsh also has nine half-centuries to his name. In bowling, Marsh took 17 wickets in the format. He was also one of Australia’s vital cogs in their maiden T20 World Cup triumph in 2021 in UAE, including a match-winning 77 not out in the final against New Zealand.
Adding more updates on Marsh, Ponting revealed that it has taken a bit longer for the former that what he actually thought. “They’ve been managing his rehab for a couple of weeks now. I spoke to him the other day and it seems it’s taken a little longer than he first thought to get over it,” he said.
Asked if Marsh would get fit on time, Ponting sounded confident. “I don’t think the T20 World Cup would be an issue,” Ponting stressed. Meanwhile, Australia are in a pretty easy group on the T20 World Cup. They have been placed alongside England, Namibia, Oman and Scotland in Group B. Australia begin their campaign against Oman on June 6 in Bridgetown.