India spinner Kuldeep Yadav is nearing a move to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in a blockbuster trade ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027.
The high-profile swap centers around former LSG skipper Rishabh Pant, who is highly likely to make a "homecoming" to the Delhi Capitals (DC), TOI reported.
The rumored trade reflects the aggressive rebuilding phase both franchises are undergoing following the disappointing IPL 2026 season.
Pant was roped in by LSG for a record sum of Rs 27 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction, but he managed just over 500 runs across two seasons with the franchise.
Under his leadership, the Super Giants endured back‑to‑back disappointing campaigns, with the side finishing seventh last year and slipping further this season by ending at the bottom of the points table.
Overall, the wicketkeeper-batter managed 10 wins and 18 defeats as the LSG skipper. He also relinquished captaincy just after the end of LSG’s IPL 2026 campaign.
"Rishabh approached the franchise with this request and we have respectfully accepted it. These decisions are never easy. We are grateful for everything Rishabh has brought to this dressing room as captain. Our focus now is on the collective - rebuilding and restructuring to reach the best standards," LSG’s Director of Cricket, Tom Moody, said in a statement.
It remains to been whether Rishabh Pant gets the leadership role at DC or not. The franchise will reportedly have more discussions on this front in the coming days. Several reports indicate that following two consecutive seasons without a playoff finish under Axar Patel, the Delhi Capitals management is highly likely to appoint KL Rahul as captain.
As far as Kuldeep is concerned, he was retained by the Capitals for Rs 13.25 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, reinforcing his role as their premier spinner. After joining Delhi Capitals in 2022, he successfully revived his international career through highly impactful performances.
While Kuldeep’s 21-wicket debut season with the franchise remains his statistical peak, his consistency helped secure his spot both in the IPL and the national squad. His 2026 season was quite underwhelming, claiming 10 wickets in 12 matches at an economy rate of 10.29.
(With TOI Inputs)
