Despite the return of Rishabh Pant in the trade with Kuldeep Yadav, former Team India spinner R Ashwin thinks KL Rahul should captain the Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2027. Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) completed one of the biggest trades in IPL history with a swap between Kuldeep and Pant.
Pant is returning to DC, where he spent his first eight IPL seasons till 2024. With the exception of the 2023 season he missed due to injury, the wicketkeeper also served as the team's captain from 2021 to 2024.
Ashwin, however, stated that DC should make KL Rahul the captain after two disappointing seasons under Axar Patel’s leadership. He also wondered why DC let go of Kuldeep Yadav.
"DC had a very ordinary 2026 season, where they made mistakes after mistakes. Yet, they still ended up in a decent place. There was no need for them to make any change. If you just picked the proper side and had KL Rahul captain, the side would have been in a good place next year because Axar Patel was very average as captain this year. I really don't understand why they let go of Kuldeep Yadav,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
DC went for 23 crores even in the auction where LSG signed Pant for 27 crores. So they were always keen on Rishabh Pant. He also captained DC before Axar Patel. The captaincy aspect would have stayed in Rishabh's head. He would have known that he has a greater chance to captain if he goes to Delhi," stated Ashwin.
R Ashwin believes LSG won the trade with DC due to the addition of Kuldeep Yadav, a top Team India spinner. LSG has set aside more than INR 13 crores for the IPL 2027 auction, with Pant priced at INR 27 crores and Kuldeep at INR 13.50 crores, respectively. Pant has signed with DC for a reduced price of INR 15 crore.
“LSG has won the trade because they have 13 crores entering the auction, and they now have an Indian frontline spinner. On the contrary, DC has to now decide where Rishabh bats and what his role will be.
Personally, I feel he should open for whatever team he plays in or bat in the end overs. He should not bat in the middle overs. DC has to be very wise because if you don't use Rishabh, the batter, properly, it will be difficult to get the best out of him and the team,” Ashwin concluded.
Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant both endured a poor IPL 2026, with the spinner taking only 10 wickets in 12 games, while Pant made 312 runs at a strike rate of 138.05 with just one fifty.
