Well, that perhaps was the question that even his former coach John Buchanan was dabbling with since the first week of January. The super coach of the once world champion side had no doubt about the World Champion team's skipper's abilities but there were concerns over his place in Knight Rider's first eleven. So much so, in the first week of January feelers were sent to Punter about Kolkata's intensions to trade him alongside Shoaib Akhtar. But that would have been agreed on mutual consent.
While Buchanan and the team management were sure that
Ponting could be put on sale, not the charismatic team owner. Shahrukh Khan has loads of admiration for the Aussie skipper, so he decided play him or not, keep him with the black and gold. The sequence of events perhaps was an indication for things to come.
Meanwhile Ponting's men, once considered to be 'the invincibles of world cricket' begun to take the battering. First in the hands of India then South Africa in both tests and one dayers. They somewhat managed to save their pride against the Kiwis with a 2-2 result in the one day series. That, in no uncertain terms has put the captain under pressure. With the team's fortunes fluctuating, his IPL ambitions were also criticised.
Ponting was one of the cheapest buys for the Knight Riders. They got him for Rs 1.6 Crore and the money was paid on pro-rata basis. He played 4 games and scored 39 runs, which did nothing for his reputation as a batsman, rather sent a message that he isn't any T20 slogger. But Punter helped break down barriers with the likes of Ishant Sharma, groom new talents like Ashok Dinda, Laxmi Ratan Shukla and when he went back the Knight Riders almost appointed him the captain for the season 2. Emotions ran high in the city where sport is a passion and lacs turned up at the Eden Gardens for his final game. Ponting went back with his pay cheque and loads of presents from King Khan, quite embarrassed in not having returned the King of Silver screen with as many runs.
Those few days revealed the emotional side of a man who usually is a tough competitor and an aggressive captain but not to say he lacked the edge or the spirit. While he promised to comeback for 2009, Ricky Ponting did certainly not know what was in store for him and his mates. The past few months of being constantly challenged and pushed to the wall may just have forced him to disassociate himself from his black and gold jersey for the season.
While many have said that Ponting has sent a message that he doesn't want to be a dumb-slog millionaire, but the truth may lie deeper. Perhaps the helmet of thorns is weighing down on the captain and a nation of hopefuls will point guns at him if the Aussies were to suffer yet another damning defeat. And then the IPL money will once again come up for scrutinee.
