One of the biggest player exchanges in IPL history has revamped the plans of both Delhi Capitals (DC) And Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Before the 2027 season. Former captain of Delhi Rishabh Pant Has returned to his old franchise after a high-profile trade deal that saw the key spinner -Kuldeep Yadav Head in the opposite direction to Lucknow.
Pant, who captained LSG during the 2026 campaign after joining the franchise for a record fee, will now be seen in Delhi colors once again. Meanwhile, Kuldeep is ready to start a new chapter with LSG as they look to rebuild their team for the upcoming season. The trade immediately sparked discussion about Delhi’s leadership group, with many fans expecting Pant to regain the captaincy. However, the former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin They have a different candidate in mind to lead the franchise in IPL 2027.
Ravichandran Ashwin chosen the next captain of DC
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said that he is confident KL Rahul Despite Pant’s return to the franchise, he should be given the captaincy. Delhi was headed Akshar Patel during ipl 2026But the team struggled for consistency and failed to mount a serious challenge for a playoff spot. As a result, there is widespread speculation that the franchise may appoint a new captain before the next season.
With Pant back in the setup, many assumed he would naturally step into the leadership role. After all, he previously captained Delhi Capitals and most recently led Lucknow Super Giants. Ashwin admitted that Pant might have seen the move back to Delhi as an opportunity to return to captaincy duties.
“DC had a very typical 2026 season, where they made mistakes after mistakes. Nevertheless, they still remained in a good position. There was no need to make any changes. If you had picked the right team and made KL Rahul the captain, the team would have been in a good position next year because Axar Patel was very average as a captain this year. I really don’t understand why they let Kuldeep Yadav go,” Ashwin said.
He further suggested that Pant would be aware of the leadership prospects if he rejoins Delhi.
“Even in the auction, DC had gone for Rs 23 crore, where LSG had signed Pant for Rs 27 crore. So they were always keen on Rishabh Pant. He had also captained DC before Axar Patel. The captaincy aspect must have been on Rishabh’s mind. He would know that if he goes to Delhi, he has a big chance to captain.” Ashwin added.
DC looks for a fresh start after a disappointing 2026 campaign
Delhi Capitals had a disappointing IPL 2026 season, finishing sixth in the standings with 14 points from seven wins and seven losses. Although they remained in the running for a playoff spot for most of the tournament, inconsistency ultimately proved costly.
Their bowling attack struggled to perform well regularly, with the team failing to make the most of the home conditions in Delhi and the momentum hampered by frequent changes in the batting order. Amidst the turmoil, Rahul emerged as the franchise’s standout performer, finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer and earning the Orange Cap.
It is expected that with the arrival of Pant, Delhi team will become much stronger in IPL 2027. However, with the departure of Kuldeep, questions have been raised on the balance of the team.
With a new team, a possible captaincy change and rising expectations from fans, Delhi Capitals is entering an important phase. Whether the franchise picks Pant, Rahul or retains Axar, the leadership’s decision could play a decisive role in shaping their quest for a maiden IPL title in 2027.
Also read: Rishabh Pant and Kuldeep Yadav swap franchises in high-profile deal ahead of IPL 2027
