Rishabh Pant reportedly wanted a bigger role in the Delhi Capitals (DC) franchise aside from being just the captain of the side. However, Pant and the current DC management weren’t on the same page as far as the future direction of the franchise is concerned. 

Rishabh Pant had joined the DC franchise in 2016 as an 18-year-old. He was then made captain of the side in IPL 2021 when Shreyas Iyer missed out due to injury. When Iyer returned, DC decided to continue with Rishabh.

However, things fell apart between DC management and Rishabh Pant and the unexpected development was months in the making with Pant making an ’emotional’ decision to opt against being retained and instead enter the auctions.

The two parties held talks to reach a common ground before Pant decided to part ways on “good terms".

“It was a very emotional moment for all the stakeholders. Pant has been an integral part of the franchise since he was first bought in 2016. The owners and Pant didn’t want this relationship to end easily. So, they kept trying till the end. But Pant decided that he would rather leave on good terms and be a bone of contention," TOI quoted a source as saying.

According to the report, Pant was not informed when DC appointed Hemang Badani as the new head coach and Venugopal Rao as director of cricket.

“The GMR group was the sole owner of the team when Pant was bought in 2016. They share a very fond relationship with Pant. But Pant expected a greater role in the franchise which was agreed upon in Aug. But somehow that wasn’t translating into anything," the source said.

Pant played 111 games for DC and scored 3284 runs in them at a strike rate of 148.31. He struck one century and 18 half-centuries.

Already a few franchises have approached Rishabh Pant as they plan their strategies with the keeper-batter in their minds.

DC picked Axar Patel as their first retention for Rs 16.50 crore with Kuldeep Yadav second at Rs 13.25 crore. South African Tristan Stubbs has been retained for Rs 10 crore while uncapped Abishek Porel for Rs 4 crore.

(Times of India report)