Rishabh Pant on Delhi Capitals comeback: All the inside details explained

Three weeks after Rishabh Pant decided to switch from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman is now on the verge of returning to Delhi Capitals.

India Today’s sister channel Sports Today has learned that an agreement in principle has been reached between Delhi Capitals and LSG for a successful trade that will see Pant return to his former franchise ahead of the next IPL season. The proposed move, which is awaiting approval from the IPL Board of Governors, involves a player and cash swap with Kuldeep Yadav.

If approved, the deal would mark one of the biggest player moves in IPL history and bring Pant back to a franchise where he has established himself as one of the league’s leading stars.

BUSINESS DETAILS

As per the proposed deal, Pant will move to Delhi Capitals while Kuldeep Yadav will join Lucknow Super Giants.

Trade is not a direct player-to-player exchange. Kuldeep, whose current IPL contract is worth Rs 13.25 crore, will head to LSG as part of the deal. As Pant bought Lucknow for Rs 27 crore, Delhi Capitals will also pay Rs 13.75 crore in cash to complete the transaction.

The proposal has already been sent to the IPL Board of Governors, which will scrutinize the financial details and ensure the deal complies with the league’s regulations before giving approval.

The IPL trade window officially opens one month after the IPL finals, which means that a transaction can only be formalized after the start of that period. If approved, the move is expected to be completed within the next seven to 10 days.

NEW HINGE TERMS

One notable aspect of the proposed move is Pant’s willingness to accept a substantial pay cut.

The goalkeeper is all set to switch from a Rs 27 crore contract at LSG to a deal worth around Rs 15 crore at Delhi Capitals.

Pant is also not seeking a leadership role as part of the deal. Unlike previous player-franchise discussions, captaincy is not considered a major factor this time around.

Instead, Pant is willing to come back purely as a player and contribute to the side without immediately looking for captaincy.

WHY LEFT HINGE

Pant’s move to Lucknow Super Giants was among the biggest stories of the IPL auction. Signed for a a record 27 crore rupees and handed over the skipperHe was expected to become the face of the next phase of the franchise.

Earlier this month, however, Pant decided to step down as captain to explore opportunities elsewhere. At the time, it was learned that Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals had emerged as the two franchises showing the most interest in securing his services.

Delhi Capitals have now emerged as Pant’s target, with both franchises agreeing to the terms of the trade.

Pant also maintained a strong relationship with parts of the Delhi Capitals ownership group. The franchise explored the possibility of keeping him before he entered the auction, but discussions ultimately fell through and he moved on.

With the captaincy issue no longer a major factor, talks between the two sides picked up steam in recent weeks, eventually paving the way for a reunion.

THE JUVRAI CONNECTION

Another important element behind the proposed move is Yuvraj Singh.

It was found that the former Indian all-rounder is close to joining Delhi Capitals in a coaching role. While the discussions are still ongoing, Yuvraj has long sought to work closely with Pant.

The prospect of working under Yuvraj is understood to have been viewed positively by the wicket-keeper batsman, adding impetus to discussions about a return to the Delhi Capitals.

The potential arrival of Yuvraj, coupled with Pant’s long association with the franchise, helped set the stage for a reunion.

PENDING APPROVAL

At this stage, the deal is essentially complete, pending only regulatory clearance from the IPL Board of Governors.

If approved, Delhi Capitals could head into the next IPL season with Pant back in the franchise where he made a name for himself as one of India’s premier cricketers. The move would also see Kuldeep Yadav move to Lucknow Super Giants as part of one of the most significant deals in recent IPL history.

For the Delhi Capitals, the deal would bring back one of the franchise’s most recognizable faces. It would secure one of India’s premier bowlers for LSG while also recouping the financial value associated with Pant’s contract.

Final approval is still awaited, but with all parties agreeing in principle and the trade window set to open soon, Pant’s return to the Delhi Capitals seems closer than ever.

– The end

Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

19 Jun 2026 22:42 IST