Rishabh Pant takes huge pay cut for Delhi Capitals return, Kuldeep joins LSG

IPL 2027: Lucknow Super Giants have mutually parted ways with Rishabh Pant after a disastrous Indian Premier League season. Pant is set to return to his former franchise Delhi Capitals, having taken a huge pay cut.

In Short

• Lucknow Super Giants and Rishabh Pant have decided to mutually depart
• Pant is set to take a huge pay cut to return to Delhi
• Delhi trade Kuldeep Yadav to Lucknow Super Giants as a part of the trade deal

Rishabh Pant's association with Lucknow Super Giants has been cut short after two disappointing seasons in the Indian Premier League. Pant, who became the most expensive player in IPL history, is set to return to Delhi Capitals after taking a significant pay cut from his record fee of Rs 27 crore.

In one of the biggest trade deals in IPL history, Pant's revised fee is set at Rs 15 crore - a 44 per cent reduction from his salary at LSG. At the 2024 auction, LSG outbid Delhi Capitals to acquire Pant. At the time, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka had spoken about building a long-term association with the star cricketer, saying that Pant could stay at the franchise for 15 years and lead the side to four or five IPL titles during his tenure.

After weeks of speculation, the Indian Premier League formally announced that the wicketkeeper-batter would return to Delhi Capitals in a trade deal involving spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

LSG-PANT ASSOCIATION FAILS

However, things did not go as planned as Rishabh Pant ended both his seasons at LSG in underwhelming fashion. In his debut season, Pant scored just 269 runs - a massive dip from his final season at Delhi Capitals, where he had scored 446 runs.

His second season at LSG did not bring much improvement either. Pant scored 312 runs at a strike rate of 138, floating through the batting order throughout the season.

His interactions with broadcasters often seemed disjointed, and the batter never really managed to make a position his own.

Pant now returns to the franchise where he spent nine seasons between 2016 and 2024, making 111 appearances - the most by any player for Delhi Capitals. One of the defining faces of the franchise for nearly a decade, Pant also captained the side in 43 matches across four seasons between 2021 and 2024.

WHAT HAPPENPS TO KULDEEP YADAV?

Kuldeep, meanwhile, leaves Delhi after an underwhelming season in which he picked up just 10 wickets from 12 matches. However, his overall five-year stint with Delhi was an impressive one.

Having been dropped from Kolkata Knight Riders, Kuldeep revived his career during his time with the franchise. Since joining DC in 2022, the left-arm wrist-spinner has taken 72 wickets in 65 matches and established himself as one of the most effective wicket-taking bowlers in the competition.

One of India's premier white-ball bowlers, Kuldeep will join Lucknow Super Giants at his existing fee of INR 13.50 crore.

CAN RISHABH PANT REVIVE HIS IPL CAREER?

Rishabh Pant's return to Delhi comes as a surprising one, considering the franchise never really wanted him to leave in the first place. Pant was the one to stoke speculation back in October 2024 when he tweeted: "If I go to the auction, will I be sold or not sold, and for how much?"

Pant's tweet came in sharp contrast to comments from DC co-owner Parth Jindal, who had said that the wicketkeeper-batter would certainly be retained by the franchise.

"Yes, we definitely have to retain. We have some very good players in our team. The rules have just come out, so after discussing with GMR and our director of cricket, Sourav Ganguly, decisions will be made," Parth Jindal had told the media.

However, as things turned out, Pant entered the auction and was eventually sold to LSG, who made the winning bid after beating Delhi's RTM card at Rs 21 crore.

Pant's return could work well for Delhi Capitals, who struggled to find a settled opening partner for KL Rahul in last year's IPL. Pant could also slot into the middle order, which would allow the franchise to push Tristan Stubbs further down and add more firepower at the back end of the innings.

- Ends