KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant (Image: X)
Rishabh Pant is set to rejoin his former IPL franchise, Delhi Capitals, where he started his career. After spending two seasons with Lucknow Super Giants, a stint that didn’t quite work out for him, Pant now looks set to return home.
Amid these developments, former Indian cricketer Dodda Ganesh has urged Rahul to leave Delhi Capitals if the move goes ahead.A blockbuster trade deal is on the cards, with Pant set to join Delhi Capitals while Kuldeep Yadav moves to Lucknow Super Giants. It is reliably understood that the deal is close to being completed, with the official paperwork currently in place with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).Delhi Capitals acquired KL Rahul for Rs 14 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction and he has performed exceptionally well in his two seasons with the franchise.
In his first season with DC, Rahul finished as the team’s top run-scorer, amassing 539 runs in 13 innings at an average of 53.90 and a strike rate of 149.72.
14 Crore Reserved Ahead of IPL 2026, Rahul has completely transformed his T20 style and played with tremendous attacking intent. In 14 matches, he scored 593 runs at an average of 45.62 and an impressive strike rate of 174.41.Despite Rahul’s success, Ganesh believes the wicket-keeper-batsman should consider entering the auction if Pant returns to Delhi.
“KL Rahul should ask for his release and go to the auction if Pant returns,” Ganesh wrote on X.
KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant endured contrasting campaigns in IPL 2026. While Rahul led Delhi Capitals’ batting charts as the highest run-scorer, Pant struggled for the second straight season with Lucknow Super Giants.Pant, who joined LSG for Rs 27 crore, managed just 312 runs during the IPL 2026 season. Under his captaincy, the franchise finished at the bottom of the points table, following which Pant stepped down as captain. Before joining LSG, Pant spent nine seasons with Delhi Capitals, playing 111 matches between 2016 and 2024. He also captained the team in 43 matches over three seasons before being released ahead of the mega IPL 2025 auction.Rahul, on the other hand, enjoyed another prolific season, scoring 593 runs in 14 matches at an average of 174.41. His highest score was an unbeaten 152 against Punjab Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
