Rishabh Pant’s journey with the Delhi Capitals (DC), a decade-long association, has come to an emotional end after the star wicketkeeper-batter was picked up by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a record-breaking ₹27 crore in the IPL mega auction held in Jeddah. This move officially marks the end of Pant’s tenure with DC, a franchise where he not only shone as a player but also served as captain.
Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal shared a heartfelt message, calling Pant his “younger brother” and expressing his deep sadness at losing a player who had been an integral part of the team since 2016.
Parth Jindal’s Heartfelt Message
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Jindal penned an emotional farewell for Pant, saying, “To Rishabh @RishabhPant17, you are and will always remain my younger brother. From the bottom of my heart, I love you. I have tried everything to ensure you were happy and treated you like family. I am very sad to see you go and am deeply emotional about it. You will always remain a part of DC, and I hope one day we can reunite.”
He continued, “Thank you for everything, Rishabh. Remember, we will always love you. Go well, champ, the world is at your feet. Best wishes from all of us at @DelhiCapitals – except, of course, when you play against DC!”
Pant, who played 111 matches for DC, scored 3,284 runs at an impressive average of 35.31 and a strike rate of 148.93. He captained the franchise from 2021, leaving an indelible mark on the team’s legacy.
LSG’s Strategic Bid for Pant
Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka shed light on the franchise’s decision to secure Pant, revealing that he had been a key part of their plans well before the auction.
“We had structured our strategy with Pant as a priority. Although we missed out on Bhuvneshwar Kumar, we managed to secure Avesh Khan for ₹9.75 crore and Akash Deep for ₹8 crore. It wasn’t about making the costliest bid—it was about team balance and performance,” Goenka stated.
Goenka further explained how they anticipated DC’s intentions to retain Pant through a Right-to-Match (RTM) card: “We knew Delhi would likely go up to ₹26.75 crore for Pant, similar to their bid for Shreyas Iyer. To secure him, we had to go to ₹27 crore.”
Record-Breaking Auction
Pant’s ₹27 crore price tag not only made him the most expensive player in IPL history but also outpaced Shreyas Iyer’s ₹26.75 crore deal with Punjab Kings, making this auction one of the most remarkable in IPL history.
As Pant embarks on a new chapter with LSG, his departure leaves an emotional void in the DC camp. However, both franchises—and fans—are eager to see the next phase of his illustrious career unfold.
