Not a lot has gone Delhi’s way in this year’s IPL. Bar Rishabh Pant, who is the leading run-scorer so far in the tournament with 684 runs in 14 games and Trent Boult, who has 18 wickets, none of the other players really got going on a consistent basis.

One of the biggest disappointments was Glenn Maxwell. Coming into the IPL after being Player of the Tournament in the Trans-Tasman T20 International triangular series in February this year, a lot was expected from the Australian all-rounder. But he had a rather lean time of it with both bat and ball.

Ponting was also effusive in praise of Iyer, who had to don the captain’s hat midway through the season after Gautam Gambhir decided to step down.

“For a young guy like Shreyas, who has not done a lot of captaincy in his earlier days, this was a daunting task,” pointed out Ponting. “You have to captain an IPL team in front of big crowds, every game, but he has handled that challenge very well. He is a tremendous young guy, Shreyas Iyer, he will go a long way in the game, not only with the Daredevils but with his Indian career as well and I wouldn’t be surprised to see leadership roles coming his side as well.”