Reports suggest that Delhi Capitals (DC) wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will leave the franchise for a rival IPL team. Reports suggest that the talented Team India cricketer could switch to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) from IPL 2025. Fans were left reeling with this rumour as Pant has more appearances than any other DC player, making him an integral part of their team.
Pant has been at the DC franchise since his debut and reports claim that the current owners are not decided on retaining him yet.
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper at IPL 2024, KL Rahul, is also rumoured to be on the radar of another IPL franchise. Rahul once played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and some news reports suggest he could make a sensational return in 2025.
When Did Pant Return to the IPL?
Rishabh Pant made his IPL comeback in 2024 after being sidelined for over a year. The DC skipper didn’t disappoint fans as he returned to T20 action at IPL 2024.
Why are There Questions Over Rishabh Pant’s IPL Future?
Long injury layoff
Rishabh Pant is one of India’s top players right now, but the cricketer endured a torrid phase in his career from 2022. Pant had to grapple with the effects of a freak accident on December 31, 2022 which stalled his career for over a year.
He missed the entire IPL 2023 campaign due to injuries sustained in that 2022 New Year’s Eve accident. The cricketer required a combination of careful rehabilitation and professional treatment to get in shape ahead of IPL 2024. He engaged training and rehabilitation sessions at the National Cricket Academy before returning to T20 action this year.
Potential drop in form
Pant is a great cricketer, but he had an unconvincing start to IPL 2023. Questions over Pant’s continued stay at DC stem from a combination of factors. Some analysts believe that the cricketer’s long hiatus from cricket in 2023 may have limited few of his abilities. Others suggest that the cricket maestro may need a change of franchise to rediscover his pre-accident output.
Poor DC performance at IPL 2023
DC retained his services for the 2024 campaign and he did not disappoint. Pant smashed home 446 runs in 13 innings for the Capitals, announcing his arrival with a 40.55 average. However, his efforts were nowhere near enough to guide DC to an IPL playoffs berth. DC finished sixth on the log and had to endure an equal count of victories and losses (7 each) throughout IPL 2024.
Departure of DC’s head coach
The poor DC campaign at IPL 2024 led to their head coach’s dismissal. Former DC head coach Ricky Ponting had to leave his role after a disappointing run of results in 2024. The cricket maestro’s bow-out may have a direct impact on Pant’s future with DC. Pant and Ponting worked closely throughout the coach’s stint at DC; their relationship may trigger a forced exit of Rishabh by the franchise owners.
Potential interest from CSK
There are reports that CSK may have some interest in Rishabh Pant to replace the aging MS Dhoni. CSK didn’t get the IPL 2024 campaign they were hoping for after securing the 2023 title and some shakeups are likely to take place before 2025. CSK could see the potential in Pant to replace their talismanic skipper who has brought five IPL titles their way.
Pant could be tempted by the offer, particularly if DC fail to assure his place ahead of the auction and IPL 2025 season.
Pant Set to Remain with the Delhi Capitals for IPL 2025
An IANS report claims that Rishabh Pant remains committed to DC and looks forward to continue with them in 2025. Sources at the news agency claim that Pant will stay at the franchise after the IPL 2025 auction slated for later this year.
The report also suggests that uncertainty over futures of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel will be settled before IPL 2025. All three players (Pant, Yadav, and Patel) are set to stay at DC beyond 2024 according to the IANS report.
KL Rahul Likely to Leave LSG
LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka lashed out at KL Rahul after a disappointing team performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) last season. The relationship between team captain and franchise owner has soured since that event, leaving options open for Rahul to leave.
Some unconfirmed reports suggest that Rahul is set to join Virat Kohli at RCB. Rahul has been at LSG since 2022 and could try out his chances at another franchise in 2025 based on current realities.
