Three weeks after Rishabh Pant had decided to move on from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), the India wicketkeeper-batter is now on the verge of a return to Delhi Capitals.
India Today’s sister channel, Sports Today, learnt that an agreement in principle has been reached between Delhi Capitals and LSG over a blockbuster trade that would see Pant return to his former franchise ahead of the next IPL season. The proposed move, which is awaiting approval from the IPL Governing Council, involves a player-plus-cash swap featuring Kuldeep Yadav.
If approved, the trade would mark one of the biggest player movements in IPL history and bring Pant back to the franchise where he established himself as one of the league’s premier stars.
TRADE DETAILS
Under the proposed agreement, Pant will move to Delhi Capitals, while Kuldeep Yadav will join Lucknow Super Giants.
The trade is not a straightforward player-for-player swap. Kuldeep, whose current IPL contract is worth Rs 13.25 crore, will head to LSG as part of the deal. Since Pant was bought by 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 Governing Council, which will examine the financial details and ensure the trade complies with league regulations before granting approval.
The IPL trade window officially opens one month after the IPL final, meaning the transaction can only be formalised once that period begins. If approved, the move is expected to be completed within the next seven to ten days.
PANT’S NEW TERMS
One of the notable aspects of the proposed move is Pant’s willingness to accept a substantial reduction in salary.
The wicketkeeper-batter is prepared to move 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 agreement. Unlike previous discussions involving the player and the franchise, captaincy is not believed to be a major factor this time around.
Instead, Pant is willing to return purely as a player and contribute to the side without immediately seeking the captaincy.
WHY PANT LEFT
Pant’s move to Lucknow Super Giants was among the biggest stories of the IPL auction. Signed for a record Rs 27 crore and handed the captaincy, he was expected to become the face of the franchise’s next phase.
However, earlier this month that Pant had decided to step down as captain and explore opportunities elsewhere. At the time, it is learnt that the Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals had emerged as the two franchises showing the strongest interest in securing his services.
Delhi Capitals have now emerged as Pant’s destination, with the two franchises agreeing to the framework of a trade.
Pant has also maintained a strong relationship with sections of the Delhi Capitals ownership group. The franchise had explored the possibility of retaining him before he entered the auction, but discussions eventually broke down and he moved on.
With the captaincy issue no longer a major factor, talks between the two sides gathered momentum in recent weeks and ultimately paved the way for a reunion.
THE YUVRAJ CONNECTION
Another important element behind the proposed move is Yuvraj Singh.
It has been learnt that the former India all-rounder is close to joining the Delhi Capitals setup in a coaching role. While discussions are still ongoing, Yuvraj has long been keen on working closely with Pant.
The prospect of working under Yuvraj is understood to have been viewed positively by the wicketkeeper-batter and added momentum to discussions over a return to Delhi Capitals.
The potential arrival of Yuvraj, coupled with Pant’s long-standing association with the franchise, helped create the conditions for a reunion.
APPROVAL AWAITS
At this stage, the deal is effectively complete in principle and is awaiting only regulatory clearance from the IPL Governing Council.
If approved, Delhi Capitals could head into the next IPL season with Pant back at the franchise where he made his name as one of India’s leading cricketers. The move would also see Kuldeep Yadav switch to Lucknow Super Giants as part of one of the most significant trades in recent IPL history.
For Delhi Capitals, the deal would bring back one of the franchise’s most recognisable faces. For LSG, it would secure one of India’s premier spin bowlers while recovering the financial value attached to Pant’s contract.
The final clearance is still pending, but with all parties having agreed in principle and the trade window set to open shortly, Pant’s return to Delhi Capitals appears closer than ever.
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