Rishabh Pant's Exit from Delhi Capitals: New Insights into the Reasons Behind His Departure
Rishabh Pant first joined the Delhi franchise in 2016 and had been a retained player during the past mega auctions. His departure marks the end of a significant era for both Pant and the franchise. The Delhi Capitals are co-owned by the JSW Group and the GMR Group, with each taking turns to manage the franchise every two years.
Recent reports have shed light on Rishabh Pant's unexpected exit from the Delhi Capitals (DC), where he served as captain for nine years. The franchise's decision not to retain Pant during the player retention announcement on October 31 has raised eyebrows, especially as they opted to keep players like Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, and Abishek Porel instead.
Power Dynamics and Coaching Concerns
According to a PTI report, one of the primary reasons for Pant's departure was his concern about losing authority within the franchise. With GMR Group taking the helm for the next two IPL seasons, Pant feared that the owners might curtail his powers as captain. The report highlights that Pant was dissatisfied with the franchise's new coaching appointments, specifically mentioning Hemang Badani as the head coach and Venugopal Rao as the director of cricket.
The dynamics within the organization shifted significantly with the new leadership structure, prompting Pant to reassess his position. "In case of Pant, more than money, he was not happy about his powers being curbed by GMR, the co-owners, who will run the show for the next two years," the report states.
Pant's Long Association with DC Ends
Rishabh Pant first joined the Delhi franchise in 2016 and had been a retained player during the past mega auctions. His departure marks the end of a significant era for both Pant and the franchise. The Delhi Capitals are co-owned by the JSW Group and the GMR Group, with each taking turns to manage the franchise every two years. The upcoming IPL seasons in 2025 and 2026 will be under the GMR Group’s direction, which has already led to the departure of long-time head coach Ricky Ponting and possibly former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who may have no role in the men’s team for the next two years.
Future Prospects for Pant
Despite his exit from Delhi Capitals, Pant is expected to be a highly sought-after player in the upcoming mega auction, with franchises like Lucknow Super Giants, Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Kolkata Knight Riders showing interest in securing his services, particularly for a leadership role.
Although the Delhi Capitals have the right to match any bid for Pant, the financial constraints may pose challenges. With ₹73 crore left in their auction purse and the need to fill 21 player slots, it could be difficult for them to reacquire Pant if he commands a salary exceeding ₹25 crore.
In his tenure with the Delhi Capitals, Pant played 111 matches, accumulating 3,284 runs at an average of 35.31 and a strike rate of 148.93, with a top score of 128 not out. His absence will undoubtedly be felt, and it remains to be seen how both Pant and the franchise adapt to this significant change in the upcoming season.
