Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra doesn’t see the Delhi Capitals (DC) reacquiring Rishabh Pant at the IPL 2025 auction. He also stated that the franchise might not even bid or try to use the ‘Right To Match’ (RTM) card for him if it’s an ego issue as well. However, the Capitals retained only four players – Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs and Abishek Porel – and have two RTM cards available as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “They have ‘Right To Match’ cards left for two capped players. They might use the ‘Right To Match’ card for Jake Fraser-McGurk and get him as well. I don’t think they will go towards Rishabh Pant over a particular budget. They might show interest but will say they are not interested after a particular budget.”
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“They might not lift the paddle at all if it’s an ego issue, that they don’t need him at all. Everything can happen. I don’t see Rishabh Pant returning there. Either they will not go at all after Rishabh Pant and even if they go, they won’t be able to get him because the last bid while using the RTM card will be beyond the Delhi Capitals’ means. They will have money but they won’t spend,” Chopra further added.
In the same video, Aakash Chopra also said that either the Punjab Kings (PBKS) or the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) would buy Rishabh Pant at the auction.
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“Where do I see a fight for Rishabh Pant? You need to have more than 70 crores if you have to buy Rishabh Pant because he will only take 25 to 30 crores. If he takes 25 to 30 crores, how will you make the rest of the team? So the 110-crore ones (PBKS) and RCB, one of them will take him. Although Chennai will try, they don’t have that much money. No other team has that much money. If we leave Rajasthan (Royals) and maybe LSG (Lucknow Super Giants), every other team will want him as they need a keeper-batter. Gujarat might also be interested. Gujarat was very interested in him earlier but Delhi didn’t want to release him then,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
