Sports
Why Delhi Capitals Let Rishabh Pant Go in IPL 2025 Mega Auction… and How a ₹27 Crore Twist Changed Everything
A new Right to Match rule, a bidding war with Lucknow Super Giants, and a costly hesitation turned Rishabh Pant into the IPL’s most expensive player—and reshaped Delhi Capitals’ future.
New Delhi: The story of Rishabh Pant and Delhi Capitals was once written like a long-term romance—captaincy, big innings, and franchise loyalty. But ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, that relationship took a dramatic turn that still echoes across the league.
Pant, who had been with Delhi since his IPL debut in 2016 and eventually became captain ahead of IPL 2021, was unexpectedly released before the mega auction. What followed was a complex bidding battle involving new rules, aggressive franchise strategy, and one of the most expensive decisions in IPL history.
The Rule That Changed Everything
The IPL mega auction introduced a crucial mechanism involving the Right to Match (RTM) card. Under this rule, a player’s former franchise could match the highest bid and reclaim the player.
When Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) placed an initial winning bid of ₹20.75 crore for Pant, Delhi Capitals exercised their RTM option, hoping to bring their former skipper back home.
But that is where the situation flipped.
LSG, using the new auction provision, were allowed to raise their bid further—and they did exactly that, pushing the price to a staggering ₹27 crore, just above the previous record set by Shreyas Iyer during the same auction window.
At that moment, Delhi Capitals faced a difficult choice: match an unprecedented valuation or step aside.
They chose the latter.
A Record-Breaking Move to Lucknow
With Delhi declining to match the revised bid, Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history, joining LSG for ₹27 crore. It was a landmark moment—not just for the player, but for the league’s evolving auction dynamics.
The decision marked the end of Pant’s long association with Delhi Capitals, a franchise where he had built his identity as a fearless match-winner and eventually a leader.
What Went Wrong at Lucknow Super Giants?
Pant’s move to LSG came with enormous expectations, but results on the field did not match the price tag.
Across two seasons:
- LSG finished 7th in 2025 with just 6 wins in 14 matches
- They dropped to last place in 2026, winning only 4 games
Individually, Pant struggled to find consistency with the bat:
- 269 runs in 2025, with a late century after elimination
- 312 runs in 2026, including just one half-century
- Eventually stepped down as captain before the season ended
For a player of his stature, the numbers fell well below expectations, adding pressure on both player and franchise.
Could Delhi Capitals Have Made a Different Call?
In hindsight, Delhi Capitals’ decision not to match the ₹27 crore RTM bid remains one of the most debated auction moments in recent IPL history.
Had they pushed further, Pant might have continued his leadership journey in familiar surroundings. But the financial ceiling set during the auction, combined with strategic caution, ultimately shaped their choice.
A Possible Homecoming Ahead?
Interestingly, reports now suggest that Pant could be in line for a return to Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2027, reopening a chapter that many thought had closed permanently.
If that happens, it would complete a full circle—from rising star to record signing, and potentially back to where it all began.
For now, though, the Pant-Delhi story remains one of IPL’s most fascinating “what if” moments—where rules, timing, and valuation changed the fate of a franchise icon.
