Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has become one of the most anticipated names ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Former cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar recently speculated that Pant’s departure from the Delhi Capitals (DC) stemmed from a disagreement over his retention fee. However, Pant has clarified that financial issues were not the reason behind his decision to leave the franchise.
Gavaskar’s Speculation on Pant’s Departure
Sunil Gavaskar, in a video shared by Star Sports, suggested that top players sometimes leave their franchises to assess their market value in the auction. He speculated that Pant’s exit from DC might have been linked to disagreements over retention fees, as seen in similar cases with other players. Gavaskar added,
“Delhi would certainly want Rishabh Pant back in the squad. Sometimes when a player is to be retained, there is talk between the player and franchise about the fees that is expected. As you can see, some of the players who have been retained by the franchise, they’ve gone for more than what the No. 1 retention fee would’ve been. Maybe there was some disagreement over there (fees).
“My feeling is Delhi would definitely want Pant back because they need a captain as well. If Rishabh Pant is not in their squad then they have to look for a new captain”
The curious case of Rishabh Pant & Delhi! 🧐
🗣 Hear it from #SunilGavaskar as he talks about the possibility of @RishabhPant17 returning to the Delhi Capitals!
📺 Watch #IPLAuction 👉 NOV 24th & 25th, 2:30 PM onwards on Star Sports Network & JioCinema! pic.twitter.com/ugrlilKj96
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 19, 2024
Rishabh Pant Refutes Claims
In response to Gavaskar’s comments, Pant addressed the speculation on X (formerly Twitter), clarifying that money was not a factor in his decision. He stated,
“It wasn’t about the money for sure that I can say.”
My retention wasn’t about the money for sure that I can say 🤍
— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) November 19, 2024
Teams Gearing Up for Pant
Pant’s remarkable IPL career, which includes over 3,284 runs since his debut in 2016 and a tenure as DC captain, makes him a valuable asset. All ten franchises are expected to compete fiercely for him at the auction scheduled for November 24-25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Teams like Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, and Royal Challengers Bangalore are rumored to be frontrunners, but a potential return to Delhi Capitals cannot be ruled out.
Pant’s clarification and the buzz surrounding his auction prospects have ignited fan debates, with many eagerly waiting to see which team will secure the star player’s services.
Maybe or may not be but Gavaskar ji should not make controversial statements
— viswanath gundappa (@vishyey) November 19, 2024
I was about to tag Rishabh, but then I saw his comment. The clouds of confusion have cleared; Rishabh is not coming back. Thank you for your services.
— Dev (@DevAtCricket) November 19, 2024
Is this the right time, 2 days before the BGT to have a discussion on IPL contracts. Should let the players concentrate on the all important Test series. Especially when the Test trophy is in his own name. What a dumb bunch of old cricketers have in India.
— victor (@pm_docc) November 19, 2024
Which team do you think Rishabh Pant will represent in the IPL 2025? Share your thoughts in the comments!
