New Delhi
Australian cricket great Ricky Ponting Saturday said there would be less pressure on players in the virus-hit Indian Premier League with matches being played in empty stadiums.
The Twenty20 tournament begins Saturday evening in the United Arab Emirates, with holders Mumbai Indians playing the Chennai Super Kings in the opener in Abu Dhabi.
Ponting, coach of IPL side Delhi Capitals who kick off their campaign against Kings XI Punjab on Sunday, believes his team will bring their own energy to the field.
“The fact that there is no crowds on the ground, I actually think that probably puts less pressure on the players,” Ponting said in a virtual pre-season press conference from Dubai.
“The less noise and everything there probably creates less pressure,” he said. “Playing in front of an empty stadium will be different … but once we start I think it is going to be about our group creating their own atmosphere and own energy on the ground and not expecting the crowds actually in the stadium to lift us up and anything like that.”
However Delhi skipper Shreyas Iyer said the team would be missing the roar of their fans in the stadiums.
“Fans obviously when they are in the stands they give us that boost and the adrenaline subsequently. So we obviously we would be missing them out there in the stadium,” said Iyer.—AFP
