Rishabh Pant is poised for a return to the Delhi Capitals in a significant trade deal with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Despite becoming the most expensive player in IPL history following his INR 27 crore (approx. US$ 3 million) acquisition at the 2025 mega auction, Pant is expected to move to DC for a reduced sum of INR 15 crore (approx. US$ 1.5 million). The deal is currently finalizing formalities and awaits official ratification from the BCCI. Financially, the trade benefits LSG’s auction purse, which will see an increase of INR 13.75 crore (the difference between Pant’s salary and Kuldeep Yadav’s INR 13.25 crore), while DC will see a deduction of INR 1.25 crore to accommodate Pant’s new salary.
Pant’s move marks the second instance of a high-profile player accepting a pay cut for a trade, mirroring Ravindra Jadeja’s transition from Chennai Super Kings to Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026. In that instance, Jadeja’s salary dropped from INR 18 crore to INR 14 crore. Reports indicate that Pant was courted by two franchises for this move: the Delhi Capitals and another multi-time IPL champion.
In exchange, Kuldeep Yadav will join LSG. The left-arm wristspinner, who represents Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket, will now play for the franchise representing his home state. While Kuldeep faced a challenging recent season and spent much of India’s T20 World Cup triumph on the bench, he remains a proven performer for DC, having claimed 72 wickets in 65 games with an economy of 8.24 since 2022.
The move follows a difficult tenure for Pant at LSG, where he stepped down from the captaincy just two days before the IPL 2026 final. This decision came after team director Tom Moody indicated a need for a leadership “reset” following three consecutive seasons of decline, culminating in a last-place finish in 2026. During his two seasons as LSG captain, Pant won 10 matches and lost 18, while his batting average (26.4) and strike rate (135.74) both dipped below his career T20 benchmarks.
This stands in stark contrast to his successful stint with DC. Appointed as interim captain in 2021, Pant led the side in 44 matches between 2021 and 2024, securing 24 wins and 19 losses. His productivity remained consistent during this period, scoring 1,205 runs at an average of 35.44 and a strike rate of 143.96.
If ratified, Pant’s return to DC will mirror Hardik Pandya’s return to the Mumbai Indians, with both players returning to the teams where their professional journeys began. Pant originally joined the franchise in 2016 when they were known as the Delhi Daredevils. He had opted for release prior to the 2025 mega auction following discussions with DC co-owner Kiran Grandhi and Parth Jindal.
