Rishabh Pant (Source -Twitter/X)
October 31, 2024, was a landmark day as far as the buildup to the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League is concerned. There were truckloads of anticipation for Deadline Day, and it surely did not disappoint. There were multiple reports floating around that entailed the retention and release of a bunch of key players for each franchise, with most of them turning out to be true.
One distinguished figure who was released by the Delhi Capitals was their skipper since the 2021 edition, Rishabh Pant. Pant, who has been a lynchpin for the Capitals since 2016, reportedly failed to reach a common ground with the senior management as far as the subject of captaincy was concerned. The management did not really consider Pant to be the right fit for the leadership position, which led to a mutual agreement between the two parties, seeing Pant not getting retained by the franchise.
With Pant being thrown into the pool of the mega auction for the first time in eight years, it will be interesting to witness the franchise he would eventually end up with. Considering the belligerent form he has been in during his recent expedition with the bat in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand, Pant is sure to be someone for whom there will be teams who would be ready to splurge the big bucks. Without further ado, let us delve into three franchises that are certain to go into a bidding war for the swashbuckling southpaw.
3) Royal Challengers Bengaluru
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru may have retained former skipper, Virat Kohli, as their marquee retention. However, his being handed over the reins of captaincy still remains a big question mark. In the midst of speculations that are going rife, the franchise might look to acquire Pant and be their future skipper.
Another factor to consider is the retirement of one of RCB’s middle-order power-hitters in the form of Dinesh Karthik. Bearing in mind the sheer boldness with which he conducts himself while in the middle, there could not be a better substitute for Karthik than Pant. That he is also a wicket-keeper is a bonus and makes him the perfect like-for-like replacement.
No ground seems large enough when Pant is on a song, which has been validated time and again. It is not unknown that the Chinnaswamy comes under the umbrella of one of the smallest grounds in terms of dimensions. The fact that it is also one of the most batting-friendly venues in the IPL is sure to augment the impact of Pant as one of their hard-hitters.
Also Check: IPL Auction 2025 News
2) Chennai Super Kings
Chepauk’s surface is quite notoriously renowned for its slow and low nature. There have been multiple instances of batters struggling to up the ante at the home venue of the Chennai Super Kings. With Pant being the ever-dynamic batter he is as well as his proven proficiency against spinners, he might just be what CSK would be looking for.
With age not being in the favour of CSK’s stalwart, MS Dhoni, Pant might just be the perfect successor of Dhoni. With there being rumors doing the rounds of Dhoni being used merely as an Impact Player, someone like Pant could really complement his idol in the subsequent season. He is no less agile than Dhoni, making him a perfect bet for the freak case of Dhoni being used as an Impact Player, but only as a specialist batter.
It might quite possibly be that the upcoming season is indeed Dhoni’s final one before he ends up calling it a day. In that case, Pant would be the perfect successor for CSK’s current skipper, Ruturaj Gaikwad, from whom he could take on-field guidance. The former skipper of DC has all the tools required to serve as CSK’s next full-time skipper, in case the management wants to relieve the burden of captaincy from Gaikwad.
Also Check: IPL 2025: 5 players who can trigger bidding war between CSK and MI at upcoming mega-auction
1) Punjab Kings
With the appointment of Ricky Ponting as the head coach of the Punjab Kings for a minimum contractual period of four years, the likelihood of a charismatic presence such as Pant would be something that would act as a game-changer for PBKS. Their association at DC grew stronger by the day with Ponting being an ardent admirer of Pant for his attributes. This is one of the core reasons for Ponting to go all-out for Pant during the mega auction.
Surprisingly, PBKS went ahead with retaining two of their uncapped players only. That leaves them with a purse of INR 110.5 crore, which provides them with almost a full-fledged opportunity to acquire a priceless asset in the form of Pant. It seems as if the think-tank of the franchise wants to restructure their side, and it could be nothing better than putting Pant as the team’s nucleus around which the squad is assembled.
Also Read: 5 worst retentions by franchises before IPL 2025 mega auction
With Jitesh Sharma not really living up to his expectations in his three years at the franchise, it is most likely that the management has decided to move on from him. This presents a perfect opportunity for bringing Pant into the setup. Not only would Pant be more than a valuable resource with the gloves on, but he would also serve as a guiding presence to other bowlers and fielders, considering the world of experience he has gained over time.
Top 5 fastest fifties on Test debut by balls taken
Watch: Kamran Ghulam swears at Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Verreynne during Day 1 of Centurion Test
‘Stay away from contact’- Irfan Pathan shares his views on Kohli-Konstas altercation
‘I don’t think much has changed’- Michael Clarke on how Indian teams have dealt with Australian media
