‘Tujhe full freedom hai’: Axar Patel’s message to Rishabh Pant after Delhi Capitals comeback

Axar Patel and Rishabh Pant (BCCI/IPL Photo) NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant’s return to Delhi Capitals was one of the biggest moves ahead of the new IPL 2027 season and DC skipper Axar Patel has already made it clear that the batsman will have complete freedom at the wicket when he rejoins the franchise.Pant returned to the Delhi Capitals in a high-profile trade completed on Tuesday. The move saw Pant return to his former franchise for Rs 15 crore while spinner Kuldeep Yadav moved to Lucknow Super Giants. Pant joined LSG for a record Rs 27 crore ahead of IPL 2025 but endured two disappointing seasons with the franchise.In a video shared by Delhi Capitals, Axar spoke about his relationship with Pant and emphasized that there will be no extra pressure on the former DC skipper.“All I know is that he was given full freedom as a captain from my side. Our relationship was never like that between a captain and a player. When he was there, he was my captain and he guided me at that time. There was never a feeling between us that I am the main captain and whatever I say must be done. We always worked with mutual understanding (I only know that he will have complete mutual freedom from my side. When we were here, he was always there with me) Like captain. understanding.Axar said both players understand their roles and responsibilities as they have spent several years together in the franchise.“He also knew he was an older player. I also knew I was an older player as well. We always had a mutual understanding of what he could and couldn’t do in a particular situation,” he said.Pant returns to the team where he played 111 matches between 2016 and 2024. He also captained the Delhi Capitals from 2021 to 2024 and remains one of the franchise’s most popular players.Axar believes Delhi remains Pant’s home and said neither he nor the franchise expects anything extra from the star batter.“And as a friend and captain, I just want to say that there is no extra pressure on him. Neither from me nor from the franchise. This is his home. He has played here before and has played for many years. Delhi is his home (And as a friend and captain, I would like to tell him that there is no extra pressure on him. Neither from me nor from this franchise. He has played here for many years and with this franchise for many years,” he said. he said.Pant’s time with Lucknow Super Giants was tough. LSG finished seventh in IPL 2025 before finishing bottom of the table in IPL 2026 under his leadership. With the bat, Pant scored 269 runs in 2025 and followed it up with 312 runs and one half-century in 2026.Despite this, Axar supported Pant’s quality and reminded him that class never goes away.“I don’t need to be told much. All I know is that as a captain you get complete freedom from my side. Just enjoy. It’s your natural character and style, you should enjoy it. Form and other things are temporary but class is permanent. And you are our category player. You have complete freedom from my side. Just play your game and enjoy. Here. Mera uske liye message I really need is he’rahtega to he had complete freedom on my part as a captain, enjoy playing in a way that is natural to you and everything else is temporary, but you are that kind of player.