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Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is finally back with the Delhi Capitals (DC). After two frustrating seasons with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Rishabh Pant has returned to Delhi Capitals in one of the biggest IPL trades ahead of the 2027 season.
Things never really went the way many had expected for both the Indian wicketkeeper and Lucknow Super Giants. While Pant struggled badly with the bat after becoming the most expensive player in the IPL story with ₹27 crore, LSG also had a miserable time in the last two seasons. After the deal, Parth Jindal broke the silence on the Rishabh Pant-Kuldeep Yadav swap.
Rishabh Pant returns to the Delhi Capitals in a blockbuster deal
Even before the official end of the IPL 2026, Rishabh Pant resigned as the Lucknow Super Giants captain. There were already speculations that Pant would leave the LSG because of his alleged rift with the team management. Many have already hinted that he would return to his first franchise.
Now, those rumors have turned into reality, with Delhi Capitals bringing back one of their most loved players. Pant accepted a pay cut of ₹12 crore to make the trade happen with Kuldeep Yadav moving to Lucknow Super Giants at his existing fee of ₹13.5 crore.
Rishabh Pant shares big news with Axar Patel after Delhi Capitals trade
As soon as the trade was confirmed, Pant picked up his phone and called Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel. He wanted Axar to hear the news directly from him. However, Axar was busy at home with his child, so he ended up missing Pant's calls as the all-rounder shared the conversation.
Axar Patel said in a video shared by Delhi Capitals on X (formerly Twitter): “He was the first person to call me. These days, I spend a lot of time with my child, so I usually keep my phone aside. I missed his first call, and when he called again, I still couldn't answer. Later, after my child had fallen asleep, I called him back and asked, 'What happened? Is something urgent?' He replied, 'Bhai, it's confirmed. Main wapas aa raha hu (I'm coming back)'.”
He added, “That was our first conversation. After that, we just spoke normally. Yes, he's finally coming back. Deep down, I always felt he would, though I never told him, 'Subah ka bhula jab shaam ko ghar aaye usey bhoola nahi kehte' (A person who returns home after straying is not considered lost). But my affection for him is such that I brought him back to Delhi.”
"Bhai, main wapas aa raha hun." 🥹
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) June 23, 2026
Bapu & the whole of Dilli waited to hear just that 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/5k1nDtNUTM
Rishabh Pant's story with Lucknow Super Giants
Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant struggled for runs during his two seasons with the Lucknow Super Giants, and the team's results also failed to improve under his captaincy.
In 28 matches across IPL 2025 and IPL 2026, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter scored 581 runs with one century and one half-century. Lucknow's performance was equally disappointing under Pant. LSG won only 10 of their 28 league matches.
They finished seventh in IPL 2025 and then suffered their worst-ever season in IPL 2026, ending at the bottom of the points table with just four wins under Pant’s captaincy.
