Why Have Delhi Capitals Released Rishabh Pant Before IPL 2025 Mega Auction?
Delhi Capitals did not retain Rishabh Pant [Source: @SirAshu2002/x.com]
The Delhi Capitals franchise released their captain Rishabh Pant ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction on October 31. In days leading up to the retention announcement, several media reports had already hinted out a potential exit of the dashing wicketkeeper-batter from the franchise.
As it turned out, the Delhi Capitals management only retained four cricketers, including international stars Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Tristan Stubbs. Abhishek Porel was the only uncapped retention made by the franchise on the day of reckoning.
Here, we take a look at the reason behind Rishabh Pant’s surprise exclusion from the Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2025 season.
Why did Delhi Capitals release Rishabh Pant?
As reported by the Times of India, Rishabh Pant was released by the Delhi Capitals franchise because the wicketkeeper-batter wanted to remain as team captain. The report further indicated that the 27-year-old also wanted to be involved in decisions regarding the appointment of coaches and the support staff.
The Delhi Capitals franchise reportedly did not wanted to release Pant, and were forced to let him go because the team management were not willing for the cricketer to continue as captain.
Earlier this year, Rishabh Pant made his return to competitive cricket after a year-and-a-half long hiatus through the IPL 2024 season, as Delhi Capitals captain. Under his leadership, the franchise secured just seven wins from 14 matches and finished at number six on the IPL 2024 points table.
The Delhi Capitals zealot had initially joined the franchise back in 2016 and has remained an integral part of the group since then. Across all his 111 IPL appearances, Pant racked up 3,284 runs at a splendid batting average of 35.31. The attacking left-handed batter also maintained an astonishing strike rate of nearly 150.
As per certain reports, it is speculated that the CSK franchise might nab Rishabh Pant for the IPL 2025 season at the impending mega auction.