IPL transfer window saw one of the biggest moves in recent memory Rishabh Pant completed a switch from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) To Delhi Capitals (DC). Pant, who was bought by LSG for a record ₹27 crore ipl 2025 auctionAt the same time, will now represent Delhi for ₹ 15 crores -Kuldeep Yadav Going in the opposite direction on his current ₹13.5 crore contract.
The trade has sparked widespread debate among fans and experts, with many discussing which franchise emerged stronger from the deal. Former Indian opening batsman Aakash Chopra recently shared his views on the transfer and why he feels Lucknow has benefited more from the exchange.
Aakash Chopra calls LSG the biggest winner of the business
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra admitted that Pant’s move resulted in a huge pay cut and highlighted how significant the difference was.
“If you were thinking of salary cuts, layoffs and limited job opportunities in your life, just think of Rishabh Pant. A guy was earning ₹27 crore and will now earn only ₹15. It’s a bit surprising to say only 15, but only 15 because it was ₹27 crore. It means a cut of ₹12 crore in salary. People don’t earn that much in their entire lives,” Chopra commented.
The former cricketer then pointed out that Pant’s presence had complicated Lucknow’s batting combination in the last two seasons. According to Chopra, the franchise struggled to find an ideal position for the wicketkeeper-batsman due to the number of top-order and foreign batting options already available in the team.
“I really feel that Lucknow got more of an advantage. Their batting order was not settling because all four of their overseas players were batsmen, and then among the Indian batsmen they had Rishabh Pant, Ayush Badoni and Mukul Choudhary. So you were not able to get them batting past No. 5, and if they tried to get them batting past No. 5, an overseas batsman would have to go down, and the combinations were not settling,” Chopra saw.
Also read: 5 players whom Delhi Capitals can release before IPL 2027
Questions remain over Pant’s role in Delhi Capitals
While Chopra admitted that Pant’s return will undoubtedly strengthen Delhi Capitals, he admitted that he is unsure about where the left-hander fits in his batting lineup. The analyst said DC already has several batting options, including Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, david miller, Sameer Rizvi And Ashutosh Sharma. As a result, he questioned whether Pant’s arrival addressed a major issue within the team.
“From Delhi’s point of view, I am still curious where he will bat because they have many opening options, Nitish Rana has started doing well at No. 3, and then they have a good middle order in Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Sameer Rizvi and Ashutosh Sharma.” Chopra said.
He further emphasized that it will not be easy for the Capitals to replace a bowler of Kuldeep’s quality. Chopra described the acquisition of Kuldeep as a big boost for LSG, and highlighted that quality Indian wrist spinners are one of the rarest commodities in franchise cricket. He also suggested that Lucknow may make more changes to their overseas setup in the future, adding that Kuldeep’s arrival will help them achieve a better team balance. ipl 2027.
