DC Co-Owner Explains Why Rishabh Pant Left the Team

Delhi Capitals (DC) co-owner Parth Jindal has revealed that the franchise’s parting with star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was due to differing philosophies on franchise management, not financial disagreements. Pant, a marquee player for DC since 2016, was acquired by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a record ₹27 crore during the IPL mega auction held in Jeddah on Sunday.

Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Jindal explained, “It was just a different philosophy of how he wanted the franchise to operate and how we, the owners, wanted the franchise to operate. It had nothing to do with money. Rishabh’s decision to move on was his own, and we respect that.”

Jindal admitted the split was emotionally challenging. “I love him like my own brother. We tried our best to find common ground, but he made the call. We have to honor that,” he added.

Jindal clarified that leadership aspirations were not a factor in Pant’s departure, though the player has expressed his desire to captain India one day. “We provided feedback on his leadership and ways to improve, but we understood and supported his ambitions. His dream is to captain India, and that journey begins with leading an IPL team,” Jindal said.

Rishabh Pant has been a cornerstone of the Delhi Capitals since his debut in 2016. Over 110 matches, he amassed 3,284 runs at an average of 35.31, including one century and 18 fifties. Appointed captain in 2021, he led DC to the playoffs in his debut season as skipper.

Pant’s all-format prowess for India and dynamic presence on the field have made him a standout player. While his T20I stats show 1,209 runs in 76 matches at an average of 23.25 and a strike rate of nearly 128, his overall T20 numbers are far more remarkable. Across 202 T20 games, he has scored 5,022 runs at an average of 31.78 and a strike rate exceeding 145, with two centuries and 25 fifties.

Delhi Capitals squad:

Batters: Jake Fraser-McGurk (RTM), Harry Brook, Tristan Stubbs (retained), Faf du Plessis, Karun Nair

Wicketkeepers: KL Rahul, Abishek Porel (retained), Donovan Ferreria

Allrounders: Axar Patel (spin; retained), Ashutosh Sharma (spin), Sameer Rizvi (spin), Darshan Nalkande (pace), Vipraj Nigam (spin), Ajay Mandal (spin), Manvanth Kumar (pace), Tripurana Vijay (spin), Madhav Tiwari (pace)

Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav (retained)

Fast bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan, Mohit Sharma, Dushmantha Chameera.