Rishabh Pant was not retained by Delhi Capitals and will enter the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Suresh Raina, a former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) cricketer, revealed that he had met MS Dhoni, the icon of the CSK franchise in Delhi. As a surprise, Rishabh Pant was also present. He also hinted that Rishabh Pant might move to the Yellow Army for the IPL 2025 tournament.
In a surprising move, Rishabh Pant was not retained by Delhi Capitals (DC) ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Pant captained DC from 2021 IPL onwards, and it was expected that he would continue with the franchise where he made his IPL debut in 2016.
On the other hand, CSK retained MS Dhoni as an uncapped player, while also keeping their core intact with the retentions of captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
This move saves a portion of CSK's auction purse as the club prepares for the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction, allowing them to balance their budget while investing in new talent to develop a formidable squad for the future.
There was much speculation about Dhoni's future with CSK, but this retention suggests he will remain with the team. However, at 43, Dhoni's career is entering its twilight, causing CSK to plan for a smooth transition.
Before the auction, reports claimed that the team may be looking to Rishabh Pant, an established leader and powerful wicketkeeper-batsman, to eventually replace Dhoni.
The likelihood of Pant donning the yellow jersey gathered more momentum after former CSK player Suresh Raina hinted at it.
“I met MS Dhoni in Delhi, and Pant was also there. Someone will be wearing a yellow jersey soon,” Suresh Raina said on JioCinema.
Pant's arrival might provide significant value to CSK's future roster by combining quickness and experience.
However, getting Pant will not be cheap, as he is projected to command a high auction price. With an INR 55 crore purse and an RTM card, CSK will face intense competition to acquire Pant's services.