Rishabh Pant Parts Ways with Delhi Capitals Amid Management Changes

Dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has officially parted ways with Delhi Capitals, making him a top contender in the upcoming IPL auction. The GMR-owned franchise opted to release the Indian international after eight seasons, during which he captained the team for three years. The retained players for DC include Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhishek Porel, and Tristan Stubbs.

The decision follows a month of intense negotiations, which were complicated by a restructuring in management. Sources reveal that with Venugopal Rao appointed as Director of Cricket and Hemang Badani as head coach, Pant's departure was anticipated. GMR is also in discussions with Shreyas Iyer, who led the team to its only final in 2020, and is not expected to return to KKR.

The current management framework allows each co-owner to oversee the team for two years, creating a convoluted structure that proved counterproductive. Once the Kiran Grandhi-led management decided to release Pant, insiders noted that he felt "hurt" by the developments.

As the IPL auction approaches, Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings are expected to pursue Pant aggressively. The 27-year-old joined the franchise in 2016 and took on the captaincy in 2021.