Delhi Capitals and Rishabh Pant parted ways after failing to reach an agreement on terms, marking the end of a long-standing association. While the exact reasons behind the split remain unclear, Pant later clarified that money was not a factor. In the IPL 2025 mega-auction, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) seized the opportunity and signed the star India wicketkeeper-batter for a record-breaking INR 27 crore, making him the costliest player in IPL history.
The bidding war for Pant was intense, with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) challenging LSG until the INR 20.75 crore mark. Delhi Capitals attempted to retain their star player by using the Right to Match (RTM) card. However, Lucknow escalated the bid to an unprecedented INR 27 crore, which Delhi chose not to match.
ALSO READ: Parthiv Patel Explains Gujarat Titans’ Strategy: Focus On Left-Arm Spinners and Squad Balance
As a result, Pant joined the Super Giants and is now widely expected to captain the franchise. Following the auction, DC co-owner Parth Jindal expressed his emotions in a heartfelt statement on social media.
Parth Jindal referred to Pant as a “younger brother” and revealed how much effort was made to keep him with the team. Despite his disappointment, Jindal shared warm wishes for Pant’s future success, highlighting their bond and hopes for a possible reunion down the line.
ALSO READ: Gautam Gambhir Flies Home Due To Personal Reasons, Set To Rejoin Team Before Pink-Ball Test
“To Rishabh, you are and will always remain my younger brother. From the bottom of my heart, I love you, and I have treated you like my family. I am very sad to see you go. You will always be a part of DC, and I hope one day we can reunite. Thank you for everything, and remember we will always love you. Go well, champ; the world is at your feet,” Parth Jindal wrote.
To Rishabh @RishabhPant17 you are and will always remain my younger brother – from the bottom of my heart I love you and I have tried everything to make sure you are happy and have treated you like my family. I am very sad to see you go and I am very emotional about it. You will…
— Parth Jindal (@ParthJindal11) November 26, 2024
Pant played 111 matches for Delhi Capitals, amassing 3284 runs at a strike rate of 148.93. As captain for four years, he brought stability to the team but couldn’t lead them to an IPL title. Despite the lack of trophies, his contributions to the franchise will be remembered fondly.
