In what is going to be a blockbuster trade of the most expensive IPL player ever, Former LSG skipper Rishabh Pant has agreed to take a paycut of ₹12 crores. Pant, who was bought for a record shattering ₹27 crores in the 2025 mega auction, will now be traded to his former franchise Delhi Capitals for ₹15 crores. DC in exchange will trade chinaman Kuldeep Yadav for his retention amount of ₹13.25 crores.
What led to the trade?
Pant, who was brought into the LSG fold with much fanfare, even to the extent that the LSG owner, Sanjeev Goenka went on to the podcast to say Rishabh will win atleast 5 trophies in the next 10 years. But just 2 years in, the Lucknow based franchise and the Southpaw are parting ways, Pant has been disappointing with his batting and his captaincy, with LSG ending up with the wooden spoon in the recently concluded IPL.
Even before the IPL ended, the LSG thinktank had deemed it appropriate that the team needed a new direction and a new leader. Pant himself looked hardly like his older self, increasingly frustrated and barely able to hold himself during the last few matches of the IPL. He even famously dropped a ‘f bomb’ on national television, highlighting how frustrated he must have been. The LSG ownership has had a infamous history with it’s wicket keeping captains. Pant, despite a paycut, might be the biggest gainer from this move.
The JSW group, which is going to take the reins for the franchise for the next 2 years, are big supporters of Pant, and have backed Pant even when he missed the entire 2023 season due to his car accident led injuries. The GMR group on the other hand had negotiation issues with Pant, which led to his departure from the franchise.
It is learnt that the trade papers are already with the BCCI, details of the trade will likely be released in the next few weeks.