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Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant is finally back with Delhi Capitals (DC). After two disappointing seasons with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Rishabh Pant has returned to Delhi Capitals in one of the biggest deals of the IPL ahead of the 2027 season.
Things never really went as many expected for both the Indian wicketkeeper and the Lucknow Super Giants. While Pant has struggled badly with the bat after becoming the most expensive player in IPL history with ₹27 crore, LSG have also had a torrid time in the last two seasons. After the deal, Parth Jindal broke his silence on the exchange of Rishabh Pant-Kuldeep Yadav.
Rishabh Pant returns to Delhi Capitals with blockbuster deal
Even before the official end of IPL 2026, Rishabh Pant resigned as the captain of Lucknow Super Giants. There were already speculations that Pant would leave LSG due to alleged differences with the team management. Many have already hinted that he will be returning to his first franchise.
Now, those rumors have turned into reality, with Delhi Capitals bringing back one of their most loved players. Pant has accepted a pay cut of ₹12 crore so that Kuldeep Yadav moves to Lucknow Supergiants for his current fee of ₹13.5 crore.
Rishabh Pant shares big news with Axar Patel after Delhi Capitals trade
As soon as the trade was confirmed, Pant picked up his phone and called Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel. He wanted Akshar to hear the news directly from him. However, Axar was busy at home with his child, so he missed Pant’s call when the all-rounder shared the conversation.
Axar Patel said in a video shared by Delhi Capitals on He replied, ‘Brother, it has been confirmed. I am coming back.
She said, “That was our first conversation. After that we talked normally. Yes, he is finally coming back. Deep inside I always felt that he would come, although I never told him, ‘Subah ka bhula when evening ghar aaye use bhula nahi hai.’ But my affection for him is such that I brought him back to Delhi.”
“Brother, I’m coming back.”
Bapu and the whole of Delhi were waiting to hear just this pic.twitter.com/5k1nDtNUTM
– Delhi Capitals (@delhicapitals) June 23, 2026
Rishabh Pant’s story with Lucknow Super Giants
Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant struggled for runs during his two seasons with Lucknow Super Giants and the team’s results did not improve under his captaincy.
In 28 matches in IPL 2025 and IPL 2026, the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman scored 581 runs with one century and one half-century. Lucknow’s performance under Pant’s leadership was equally disappointing. LSG won only 10 of their 28 league matches.
They finished seventh in IPL 2025 and then suffered their worst season in IPL 2026, finishing at the bottom of the points table with only four wins under Pant’s captaincy.
