Rishabh Pant, the dynamic Indian wicketkeeper-batter, has publicly refuted claims made by cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar regarding his departure from the Delhi Capitals (DC). Gavaskar had suggested that Pant’s exit from the franchise was due to a disagreement over his retention fee ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Pant, however, has firmly denied these allegations, stating that financial considerations did not influence his decision.
Pant, who captained Delhi Capitals last year after making a remarkable comeback from a severe car accident, was among the marquee players not retained by their franchises. This decision raised eyebrows, especially given Pant’s significant contributions to the team since his IPL debut in 2016. He has amassed 3,284 runs at an average of 35.31, including one century and 18 fifties in 111 matches.
Gavaskar’s Comments
In a recent broadcast, Gavaskar speculated that Pant’s departure might have been due to a disagreement over the retention fee. He mentioned that such discussions between players and franchises are common and can sometimes lead to differences. Gavaskar also expressed his belief that Delhi Capitals would likely attempt to bring Pant back into the squad during the auction, given his leadership qualities and the team’s need for a captain.
Rishabh Pant’s Response
Pant took to social media to address these speculations, stating, “My retention wasn’t about the money for sure that I can say.” His response indicates that the decision to part ways with Delhi Capitals was based on factors other than financial disagreements.
With the IPL 2025 mega auction set to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25, Pant is expected to be one of the most sought-after players. Alongside other former captains like Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, Pant is listed at a base price of ₹2 crore among marquee Indian players. His departure from Delhi Capitals has opened up discussions about which franchise will secure his services and how his future in the IPL will unfold.
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. Gavaskar had suggested that Pant's exit from the franchise was due to a disagreement over his retention fee ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.){kind=link}