Rishabh Pant, the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter, has parted ways with Delhi Capitals after an impressive eight-year tenure, transforming him into a sought-after player for the upcoming IPL auction. This decision follows significant management changes and protracted negotiations within the franchise.
With Pant's exit, the Delhi Capitals have retained four players: Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhishek Porel, and Tristan Stubbs. The recent overhaul in management, which saw Venugopal Rao appointed as the Director of Cricket and Hemang Badani as head coach, signalled significant changes, prompting Pant's departure from a franchise where he served as both an impactful player and captain for three seasons.
Sources have indicated that Shreyas Iyer, who previously led the team to its only IPL final in 2020, is being considered for the captaincy role. With Iyer distancing himself from Kolkata Knight Riders, discussions are underway to bring him back into the fold.
The current management structure, which allows each co-owner to run the team for two years, has been deemed inefficient and was a factor in Pant's release. Insiders suggest that Pant felt “hurt” by the developments, especially considering his loyalty to the franchise.
As the IPL auction approaches, teams like Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings are expected to pursue Pant aggressively, eager to secure the services of one of the league's brightest stars.