Team India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant bid an emotional adieu to his former Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise – the Delhi Capitals – on Tuesday. Pant became the costliest-ever cricketer in the history of IPL auctions when Lucknow Super Giants bought him for Rs 27 crore at the IPL 2025 Mega Auction in Jeddah this week.
It brings to an end an almost nine-year long association between Pant and Delhi Capitals (Delhi Daredevils before). Since 2016, Pant has appeared in 111 matches for the Delhi Capitals and scored 3,284 runs at an average of 35.31 with 1 hundred and 18 fifties with a strike-rate of 148.93.
Pant took to his official social media handle to post ‘goodbyes are never easy’. “Goodbyes are never easy. The journey with Delhi Capitals has been nothing short of amazing. From the thrills on the field to the moments off it, I’ve grown in ways I never imagined. I came here as a teenager and grew together over the last nine years,” Pant wrote.
.@DelhiCapitals #RP17 pic.twitter.com/DtMuJKrdIQ
— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) November 26, 2024
He added that the fans have made his journey with Delhi Capitals all worthwhile. “What made this journey all worthwhile is you, The fans… You’ve embraced me, cheered for me and stood by me in one of the toughest phased of my life,” Pant continued.
The wicketkeeper-batter added that he will look forward to entertaining the fans whenever he takes the field. “As I move on, I carry your love and support in my heart. I’ll look forward to entertain you whenever I take the field. Thank you for being my family and making this journey so special,” he concluded.
Lucknow Super Giants had secured Pant with their bid of Rs 20.75 crore but the Delhi Capitals exercised their ‘Right to Match’ option for their former captain. As a result, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka had to raise the big to Rs 27 crore to out-bid DC for Pant, thus making him the costliest-player ever in IPL.
Team India batter Shreyas Iyer became the second-most expensive player in IPL history with the Punjab Kings buying him for Rs 26.75 crore at the IPL 2025 Mega Auction.
