Delhi Capitals all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, has admitted that it was a big disappointment when the DC were unable to make the playoffs this season in the Indian Premier League, despite everything working in their favour until that crucial game against the Mumbai Indians.
The Delhi Capitals needed to beat Rohit Sharma led-Mumbai Indians in their last league game to secure a playoff spot. However, they lost the match by five wickets and were eliminated from the IPL 2022, meanwhile Royal Challengers Bangalore made it into the playoffs.
The 30-year-old overcame a bout of COVID-19 at the start of the tournament. Marsh, along with his Australian teammate, David Warner, displayed good performances for Delhi in the top-order in the final five games of the season.
“It was a shame we couldn’t get into the (IPL) finals. Everyone speaks about him (Ponting) so much and what he's achieved in the game. But I got a real sense of how much he cares for his players - I guess that's probably what he was like as a captain and a leader of a team," Marsh said.
"I got the real sense for how he (head coach Ricky Ponting) cares for his players and that was probably how he was as a captain and a leader of a team -- it's the way he makes you feel. He made me feel like a really important player for Delhi," he added.
The Australian all-rounder also stated that he would prefer to bat at No. 3 in the future.
"I have loved batting at number three, and I've been there a bit over 12 months now. I certainly feel like that's my best positioning in T20 cricket, and I've loved batting in the power play, I've batted a lot with David Warner and had some great partnerships with him - it's been really enjoyable."
"Hopefully, I can keep being as consistent as I possibly can at number three and stay up there. International cricket is really hard, but you've got to believe that you belong here and I think over the last 12 months."
"I have really gained the belief that my best can match up with anyone in the world," Marsh added.
Marsh hopes to carry his IPL form into a three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, which begins on June 7, and then a five-match ODI series.