Delhi Capitals’ long-standing association with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant came to an end as he was picked by Lucknow Super Giants in the recent mega auction. Co-owner Parth Jindal expressed his emotions in a heartfelt post, referring to Pant as his “younger brother” and expressing his sadness at the separation. Despite Delhi Capitals’ efforts to retain Pant using the right-to-match card, they eventually had to let him go after Lucknow Super Giants raised their bid to INR 27 crore.
Pant, who had been with Delhi since 2016 and led the franchise from 2021, leaves behind a legacy of 111 matches and 3284 runs at an average of 35.31 and a strike rate of 148.93. Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka revealed that Pant was always a part of their plans, emphasizing the importance of team balance and performance over individual player costs.
Raising the bid to INR 27 crore was a strategic move to secure Pant, making him the costliest buy in IPL history. Shreyas Iyer, the second-biggest buy, was acquired by Punjab Kings for INR 26.75 crore. Despite the emotional farewell from Delhi Capitals, Pant’s future with Lucknow Super Giants looks promising, with the team prioritizing team dynamics and performance over individual player costs. The hope for a reunion between Pant and Delhi Capitals remains, as Parth Jindal expressed his love and support for the talented cricketer.
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