 "Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant walks off the field after guiding his team to a six-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans. AP")
Contrary to rumours circulating int he media suggesting that Rishabh Pant might leave the Delhi Capitals (DC) ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, sources have confirmed to news agency IANS that the wicketkeeper-batter will continue with the franchise.
Various media outlets have pointed to the possibility of Pant, who is the DC captain, departing the team. Speculation has even linked him to a move to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the five-time champions led by the legendary MS Dhoni, with whom Pant shares a well-known mentorship and camaraderie.
However, IANS sources have firmly stated that Pant remains committed to DC and is expected to be retained alongside teammates Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, both of whom have played crucial roles for the team in recent seasons.
The trio also played roles in India’s T20 World Cup success in Barbados on June 29.
Pant has been with the Delhi Capitals since 2016, when he was acquired during an auction held on the same day he scored an impressive 111 runs off 96 balls for India in the Men’s U-19 World Cup quarter-final against Namibia in Bangladesh.
Throughout his tenure with DC, Pant has established himself as a key player, accumulating 3,284 runs in 111 matches with an average of 35.31 and a strike rate of 148.93, which includes one century and 18 fifties, earning him a strong fan following.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAs captain in IPL 2021, 2022, and 2024, Pant has also made his mark behind the stumps, taking 75 catches and executing 38 stumpings. Meanwhile, DC are currently searching for a new head coach following Ricky Ponting’s departure from the role.
VVS Laxman may join Lucknow Super Giants
Former Indian middle-order batter VVS Laxman, who currently serves as the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, is reportedly in discussions to join the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
The Times of India has reported that the management of the Lucknow-based franchise has expressed interest in bringing on board the 49-year-old Laxman as part of its coaching team in preparation for IPL 2025.
Laxman’s tenure as head of the NCA is set to conclude in September, and he is not expected to pursue a contract extension. Sources indicate that there have already been informal discussions between LSG and Laxman about his potential role with the team.
Laxman, who captained the Deccan Chargers in the inaugural IPL season in 2008, previously held the position of mentor for Sunrisers Hyderabad before taking over at the NCA in November 2021. He was also considered for the head coach position of the Indian team following Rahul Dravid’s departure but declined the opportunity. Nevertheless, he has occasionally stepped in as India’s stand-in head coach during his time at the NCA.
Most recently, Laxman traveled with the Indian team to Zimbabwe earlier this month. Under his guidance, the squad rebounded from a surprising defeat in the first match of the series to secure a 4-1 victory .