IPL confirms market deal: Rishabh Pant returns to DC with Rs 12 crore pay cut; Kuldeep Yadav joins LSG

Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav NEW DELHI: As first reported by TimesofIndia.com last week, former Rishabh Pant will return to Delhi Capitals for the 2027 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The IPL confirmed the move on Tuesday, with Pant agreeing to a salary of Rs 15 crore, Rs 12 crore less than the record Rs 27 crore deal he received when he was picked up by Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the 2025 season.“Former Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant is set to return to Delhi Capitals (DC), while Kuldeep Yadav will join Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), following one of the most significant player deals in recent IPL history,” the IPL said in a press release. Pant returns to the franchise, where he spent nine seasons between 2016 and 2024. During this period, he played 111 matches for the Delhi Capitals, the most by any player in the franchise. He also led the team in tackles with 43 games over four seasons from 2021 to 2024.In the IPL 2025 auction, Pant bought Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 27 crore, the highest bid in IPL history. After the latest trade, he will move back to Delhi Capitals for Rs 15 crore.As part of the swap, Kuldeep Yadav will join Lucknow Super Giants after spending five seasons with Delhi Capitals. Since joining DC in 2022, the left-handed wrister has picked up 72 wickets in 65 matches and has become one of the team’s key bowlers.The IPL publication reported that Kuldeep will move to Lucknow on his existing salary of Rs 13.50 crore.Pant captained Delhi Capitals for four seasons before being released ahead of the 2025 auction. He later took over the management of Lucknow Super Giants but stepped down as captain after the 2026 season.Lucknow endured a difficult IPL 2026 campaign to finish bottom of the table with four wins from 14 matches.