DC co-owner explains Rishabh Pant exit, reveals late change of heart in IPL auction

IPL 2025 auction: Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal revealed that the ownership group had respected Rishabh Pant's decision to leave the franchise and promised not to bid for him in the auction. However, Delhi decided to use the Right To Match card for the wicketkeeper-batter.

In Short

• Delhi Capitals released Rishabh Pant ahead of the auction
• Delhi tried to buy Pant back with their Right to Match card
• Parth Jindal said Pant did not take feedback as well as the owners expected

Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal revealed what transpired between the franchise and Rishabh Pant before they released their former captain ahead of the retention deadline. Delhi tried to buy Pant back in the IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah on Sunday, but Lucknow Super Giants raised the bid to a record-breaking sum of Rs 27 crore and secured the Indian wicketkeeper-batter.

Delhi Capitals did not enter the bidding war but tried to use the Right to Match card when the bid was at Rs 20.75 crore, only to lose the player to Lucknow.

Parth Jindal did not mince words as he insisted that Delhi Capitals lost Rishabh Pant when they did not retain him and buying him back at the auction was never going to be possible, considering the bidding war for the star cricketer.

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The Delhi Capitals co-owner revealed he had promised Rishabh Pant that he would not try to buy him back after they (both sets of owners - GMR and JSW) mutually agreed on the split in October and that his 'heart took over' when he used the RTM card for the wicketkeeper.

"What transpired is something that I don't want to get into. It was a very long discussion we had. At the end, Rishabh himself decided 'I don't want to stay'. We made, both Kiran and I, all efforts to keep him. But he decided he wanted to go out, go in a different direction. We respected it," Parth Jindal told RevSportz.

"At that time, I also respected it. I said 'Rishabh, I won't go for you in the auction'. But then my heart took over in the auction and I tried getting him back. Kiran is like we will make up later, both of us will make with him later if we get him. We tried, but then the price became too high. It's nothing to do with ownership. It was a joint decision," he added.

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Rishabh Pant made his debut for Delhi Capitals in 2018 and evolved into their leader. Delhi backed Pant, closely working with him during his recovery from multiple injuries he suffered in a near-fatal car crash. Delhi reappointed Pant as captain when the wicketkeeper-batter made his competitive return to cricket in 2024.

PANT DID NOT TAKE FEEDBACK AS EXPECTED: JINDAL

Parth Jindal shed light on the reason for their break-up, saying Pant did not take feedback as well as the ownership group expected.

Parth also stressed that both sets of owners -- himself and Kiran Gandhi -- were on the same page when they decided not to retain Pant ahead of the auction.

"No, I don't think it's about ownership here. We were very aligned as an ownership group. It was a very collective decision that was taken. We had a lot of discussion with Rishabh and there were things that we expected of Rishabh, and we did not get them in the last season or the previous season. We gave him honest feedback on that.

"We both, Kiran and I.. GMR and JSW, we are one family. We are united. It was a decision we took.

"We gave him feedback. The feedback was not taken as we expected it to be taken. And yeah, it's okay. He took an emotional call. He has also grown up in this franchise. He was a young boy when he started. Delhi Daredevils gave him the opportunity. Kiran gave him his first opportunity. I came into the franchise later and developed a very strong bond with him," he added.