In what can be considered a bumper trade in the Indian Premier League, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Delhi Capitals (DC) have completed the swap of Rishabh Pant and Kuldeep Yadav, as announced by the IPL on June 23, 2026.

The wicketkeeper batter had become the most expensive player in IPL history when LSG acquired his services for a massive Rs 27 crore at the 2025 mega auction. However, Rishabh Pant lowered his price to a much more manageable price of INR 15 crores to allow LSG to trade him to DC.

On the other hand, LSG will pay INR 13.25 crores for getting Kuldeep Yadav’s services from DC.

“Pant returns to the franchise where he spent nine seasons between 2016 and 2024, making 111 appearances—the most by any player for DC. One of the defining faces of the franchise for nearly a decade, he also captained the side in 43 matches across four seasons from 2021 to 2024.

Kuldeep joins LSG after a highly successful spell with Delhi Capitals lasting five seasons. Since arriving at the franchise in 2022, the left-arm wrist spinner has claimed 72 wickets in 65 matches and established himself as one of the most effective wicket-taking bowlers in the tournament,” the IPL statement read.  

Even before IPL 2026 concluded, Pant resigned as captain of LSG, hinting at his departure. Both seasons under his leadership saw LSG fail to create an impression, and LSG's IPL 2026 ended in a bottom-of-the-table finish.

In 2026, Pant scored just 312 runs in 14 games, including a single half-century; the previous year, he scored just 269 runs, including a century in the final game. Over the course of two seasons, he captained LSG in 28 games, winning just ten of them.

However, it remains to be seen whether Pant will captain the Delhi Capitals franchise as they are reportedly moving on from Axar Patel after two poor seasons.