After numerous speculations regarding the Rishabh Pant to Lucknow Super Giants trade with Delhi Capitals but reports suggested it is unlikely, the trade has now happened with Pant returning against his former franchise and straight heading in return to Lucknow ahead of IPL 2027.
Pant, who played for Delhi Capitals (DC) from 2016 to 2024, will return with the new squad after just one season at LSG. The wicketkeeper-batter was sold for a whopping INR 27 crore to Lucknow before IPL 2025 making him the most expensive player in history at any IPL auction. But with the trade, he will join Delhi Capitals for an amended price of INR 15 crore.
In return, Kuldeep Yadav left-arm wrist-spinner has moved to Lucknow Super Giants at the same price of INR 13.50 crore as well on Wednesday.
The deal is structured around the money involved, which makes a big difference to both franchises. Given that Pant previously had a contract worth INR 27 crore and Kuldeep earns IN13.50 in salary, LSG will have to add another INR 13.50 crore to their auction purse As for Delhi Capitals, it will reduce its auction purse by INR 1.50 crore.
In recent years, Pant became the second prominent figure in IPL top-bracket players to accept a pay-cut as part of an exchange decision. However, a situation like this had arisen in time for IPL 2026 when a major swap was completed between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals involving Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran and Sanju Samson. Jadeja then went for INR 14 crore after being retained for INR 18 crore.
Pant and Kuldeep both had a tough IPL 2026 season with their franchise.
During his stint as Lucknow Super Giants captain, Pant aggregated 312 runs in total from 13 innings with a best of 68 not out. He had a strike rate of 138.05, but his performances were unable to help lift the franchise who finished bottom of the table after winning just four from their 14 games.
Close to the IPL 2026 final, Pant told LSG management that he wants to relinquish his role as captain. His available options were limited after the team’s director Tom Moody earlier had signaled that a leadership reset for the franchise was on the cards after it fell short again in its aim of qualifying for finals ipl last season, finishing bottom of the ladder in 2026.
Delhi Capitals Kuldeep Yadav had also a rough season during the year The spinner took 10 wickets in 11 bowling innings and registered one three-wicket haul. In the tournament, he bowled 37 overs and was expensive in nature as he gave away runs at an economy of 10.29.
285 runs at an alarming average of 42.85 with the bat – Kuldeep bids adieu to Delhi Capitals, having left behind an overall impressive record too despite a tough season here in 2026. His economy rate of 8.24 in 65 matches has made him one of the team’s best bowlers in recent years since entering the franchise in 2022, picking up a total of 72 wickets.
It is a new page to their career for both players. Delhi Capitals will get back to old friend in Pant – can he help bring the franchise back into title contention? Will Lucknow Super Giants as they kickstart a new cycle following last season’s final, come to rely away leggie Kuldeep as an experienced leader but also of course wicket-taker ahead of IPL 2024.
