Ranji Trophy 2025-26 | Self-belief and Pontings backing help Aman Khan focus on the here and now

When Aman Khan featured in the Indian Premier League for Delhi Capitals, the then head coach Ricky Ponting spoke highly of the all-rounder. Having seen him in the first couple of training sessions, the former Australia captain was so impressed with the player that Aman ended up playing 11 matches in IPL 2023, scoring 110 runs.

While he faded away after one season, Aman once again proved his mettle, this time in a Ranji Trophy game against Mumbai, as he came up with a 44-ball-86 to save the day for Pondicherry.

Having played the game in Mumbai before shifting his base, Aman knows the conditions well, and that helped him assess the situation better. “I have been playing like this since my childhood. It’s not like I came up with this mindset today. But yes, I told myself that since there is nothing left in the match, I can play more freely, and that helped,” Aman said on Tuesday.

Before taking on Mumbai, Aman scored 66 against Delhi, and he admits that his sessions with Ponting during the Delhi Capitals days helped him immensely.

“There is one thing in my batting technique-wise that he changed for me. I have become much more consistent with my power-hitting because of that, and I am very confident now,” he said, making it clear that he aims to keep the momentum going across formats and “not think too much” about what happens in the IPL auction.