Rishabh Pant’s tenure with the Delhi Capitals (DC) has come to an end, as the franchise has opted not to retain him ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. This decision marks a significant shift for both Pant and DC, who have been closely associated since 2016.
Sources close to the development have revealed that Pant’s desire for captaincy and involvement in team management played a role in the franchise’s decision. While DC was open to retaining Pant, they were not convinced about his leadership abilities in the T20 format.
“Rishabh Pant wanted captaincy and wanted to be involved with regards to the appointment of coaches and support staff, but plenty in the DC set-up are not convinced about his T20 game,” said a source.
With Pant’s departure, DC faces the challenge of finding a new captain. Axar Patel, who has been retained by the franchise, is a potential candidate. However, sources suggest that DC may explore options at the mega-auction, with Shreyas Iyer being a strong possibility.
“Axar Patel is there as an option, but there is a strong possibility of DC exploring options at the mega auction. Shreyas Iyer will definitely be on their radar as he enjoyed a lot of success in the DC set-up and understands the set-up well,” added the source.
DC has retained four players for the upcoming season: Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristian Stubbs, and Abhishek Porel. They have also kept the option of Right To Match (RTM) card open for the mega auction.
Pant’s departure from DC marks the end of an era for the franchise. He joined the team as a young player in 2016 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming their captain in 2021. His aggressive batting and fearless leadership style made him a fan favorite.
However, Pant’s recent form in the T20 format has been inconsistent, and his captaincy has come under scrutiny. DC’s decision to part ways with him is a reflection of their desire to rebuild and find a new leader who can guide them to success in the years to come.
