Former India opener turned commentator Wasim Jaffer has said that Rishabh Pant should turn down the captaincy if Delhi Capitals (DC) offer him the role ahead of IPL 2027 as well. After spending the 2025 and 2026 seasons with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Pant will return to DC for the 2027 edition following a trade that saw him move to the Capitals for ₹15 crore, while Kuldeep Yadav joined LSG for ₹13.50 crore as well.

Speaking during a discussion on his YouTube channel (Wasim Jaffer Official), Wasim Jaffer said: “If Delhi Capitals even offer him the captaincy, I think it is better for him to say no. You know, the way KL has done it, he is enjoying his time as a player. There is a lot of pressure when you have to lead a franchise, the pressure from the owners, the expectations, the pressure from the fans, plus you have to focus on your own performance. On top of that, he is also a wicketkeeper and has to bat.”

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“I think it is better for him to play as a player because, you know, his performance has come down. Again, I feel Rishabh’s priority should be to perform well in the IPL and make his way back into the T20I and ODI teams. Captaincy is not his priority because he is not currently in India’s leadership group where he could become the captain. I think he needs to keep that aside and focus on performing as a batter, winning matches for his franchise as a batsman. I think that is what is best for Rishabh Pant,” he further added.

However, Wasim Jaffer added that Rishabh Pant can win four or five matches on his own and that it would be best for him to focus on playing as a player as well.

“Just play as a batsman and win matches. He has the ability to win four or five matches on his own. If he plays like that, I think that is best. So, I think the best thing for Rishabh Pant is to give up the captaincy and play as a player,” he concluded.