In a surprising turn of events, Rishabh Pant will enter the 2025 IPL mega auction after Delhi Capitals opted not to retain him for the upcoming IPL season. Despite being a pivotal figure for the franchise since joining in 2016, Pant’s future at DC has become uncertain following failed negotiations between him and the team’s ownership group.
The franchise has retained four players: the spin duo of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, South African batter Tristan Stubbs, and uncapped Indian wicketkeeper Abishek Porel. This retention strategy means that DC will have INR 73 crore available to reshape their squad at the auction, having committed at least INR 47 crore to their retained players.
Pant’s departure marks the end of a notable captaincy tenure that began in 2021 when he took over the leadership role. Under his captaincy, the team played 44 matches, achieving a record of 24 wins and 19 losses. He scored 1205 runs in that span, averaging 35.44 with a strike rate of 143.96. However, internal discussions leading up to the retention deadline revealed a division in the leadership regarding his future as captain.
Both co-owners of DC, Kiran Grandhi of GMR Group and Parth Jindal of JSW Sports, engaged in discussions with Pant about the direction of the franchise, but ultimately, an agreement could not be reached. As a result, Pant will be one of the high-profile names in the upcoming auction, where DC is expected to use their two Right to Match (RTM) cards in an effort to bring him back.
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Pant’s journey with DC has been marked by impressive performances and significant milestones, including a brief stint as interim captain in 2021, before he was officially appointed as captain. His leadership was particularly noteworthy as he guided the team through ups and downs, including missing the entire 2023 season due to a car crash.
As the IPL approaches, all eyes will be on the auction, where Rishabh Pant’s next chapter will unfold, potentially reshaping the landscape of the league and his career.
