Star Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who represented Delhi Capitals in the IPL from 2016 to 2024, was released ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction despite his outstanding performance as captain and leading run-scorer in the 2024 season. The decision surprised fans and analysts alike.
Delhi Capitals’ new head coach Hemang Badani, who succeeded Ricky Ponting earlier this year, recently revealed why Pant was not retained. According to Badani, the franchise was eager to keep Pant, but the 27-year-old opted to enter the auction instead, aiming to gauge his market value.
“I think it’s the other way around. He wanted not to be retained. He said he wanted to go in the auction and test the market,” Badani told Subramaniam Badrinath during an interview on the latter’s YouTube channel.
The coach explained that while Delhi’s management made extensive efforts to retain Pant, including numerous discussions and exchanges, the wicketkeeper was firm in his decision. “He said he had a feeling that there were chances he would get more money than the highest cap for a retained player, which is ₹18 crore. And, at the end of the day, he felt he was worth more,” Badani said.
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Pant’s intuition proved correct, as he was signed for a record ₹27 crore by the Lucknow Super Giants during the auction held in Jeddah on November 24 and 25. Reflecting on the move, Badani added, “Good for him. He is a very good player. We will obviously miss him. But life goes on.”
Pant remains Delhi Capitals’ most capped player and the leading run-scorer in their IPL history.
