Rishabh Pant greedy for India captaincy? Delhi Capitals' owner's jaw-dropping revelation

Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal opened up about speculation over Rishabh Pant's departure from the franchise ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Parth Jindal stated that Rishabh Pant made it clear that his dream and desire is to captain India, adding that they were quite clear about his ambitions.

Delhi Capitals released Pant ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Multiple teams showed interest in acquiring him during the auction. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) secured Pant for a record-breaking Rs 27 crore after outbidding Delhi Capitals, who had used their RTM card but could not match the amount.

I Love The Boy Like My Own Brother - Parth Jindal

Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Parth Jindal described Rishabh Pant's departure as "devastating." He revealed that the franchise tried its best to retain him, but the decision was in Pant's hands, and they respect his choice.

"I love the boy like my own brother. He took a call at the end of the day. We tried our best. He made the decision, and we have to respect it," Jindal said.

Gave Him Some Feedback Regarding Leadership - Parth Jindal

During the same conversation, Parth Jindal clarified that Rishabh Pant leaving Delhi Capitals was not related to captaincy issues. Jindal stated that the franchise had provided constructive feedback on his leadership skills to help him grow, but the player did not take it.

“We gave him some feedback regarding leadership. We suggested ways he could improve, but we were quite clear about his ambitions. We know where he wants to go. He has made it amply clear that his dream and desire is to captain India, and that starts with captaining an IPL team,” Jindal concluded.

Pant was considered a strong contender for India's vice-captaincy across formats before his 2022 accident. He had also led India in a five-match T20I series against South Africa, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

Rishabh Pant Leading Run-Getter for Delhi Capitals in IPL

Rishabh Pant made his IPL debut with Delhi Capitals in 2016, scoring 198 runs in 10 matches at an average of 24.8 and a strike rate of 130.3. His best performance came in 2018, when he scored 684 runs at an average of 52.6 and an outstanding strike rate of 173.6, including one century and five fifties.

The left-handed batter became DC captain in 2021. He guided the team to 23 wins out of 43 matches. He missed the entire season in 2023 but emerged as the team's top scorer in 2024. The southpaw amassed 446 runs in 13 matches at a strike rate of 155.40, but the team failed to advance to the playoffs.

Overall, Pant is the highest run-scorer for Delhi Capitals, having scored 3284 runs in 111 matches with an average of 35.31 and an impressive strike rate of 148.93, including one century and 18 fifties. He also became the captain of the Indian national cricket team during his stint with the Delhi Capitals team.

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