Contrary to speculation throughout Saturday suggesting Rishabh Pant might leave Delhi Capitals (DC) before the IPL 2025 mega auction, sources assert the wicketkeeper-batter will stay with the franchise. Since Saturday morning, various media outlets have suggested Pant, also DC’s captain, could depart. Reports have also connected him to a potential move to five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), led by the legendary M.S. Dhoni, whose close bond and camaraderie with Pant are widely known in cricketing circles.

However, sources confirm that Pant remains a part of DC and is poised to be retained by the franchise, along with Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. These players have been crucial for the team in recent seasons and were part of the victorious Indian squad in the Men’s T20 World Cup held in Barbados on June 29.

Pant joined the franchise in 2016 after they acquired him in the auction. This was the same day he made 111 runs off 96 balls for India in the Men’s U19 World Cup quarterfinal, leading to a 197-run victory over Namibia in Bangladesh.

Since then, Pant has cemented his place in DC, accumulating 3284 runs in 111 matches with an average of 35.31 and a striking rate of 148.93. He has also registered a century and 18 half-centuries, earning a massive following among the franchise’s supporters.

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Pant led the side in IPL 2021, 2022, and 2024, also securing 75 catches and making 38 stumpings as DC’s wicketkeeper. The franchise is currently seeking a new head coach after Ricky Ponting stepped down from the role.

K.L. Rahul’s potential move

Meanwhile, reports suggest K.L. Rahul may transfer to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Sources indicate discussions are in the early stages, emphasizing the unpredictability of future developments.

Rahul has captained LSG since their debut IPL season in 2022, but in 2024, the team secured seventh place in the points table. Rahul previously played for RCB in 2013 and 2016, contributing 397 runs in 14 innings during his second tenure with the team, which included four half-centuries as they finished as runners-up that year.

RCB is eager to include a homegrown player in their squad who can also assume leadership responsibilities in the upcoming cycle, roles which Rahul is currently capable of fulfilling.

No official statement has been issued regarding player retentions, the salaries of retained players, the total purse, or the potential availability of the Right to Match (RTM) option at the mega auction.

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