Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
The much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction is set to take place on 24 and 25 November 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Many big Indian and overseas players will be available in the auction, and all ten teams will look to build their strategies to bring these players into their squads.
Rishabh Pant is one of the biggest names going under the hammer in November, and many teams will go all out for the wicketkeeper-batter. However, his previous team, Delhi Capitals (DC), might not be able to buy him back due to several reasons. Here are three reasons why Rishabh Pant will not play for DC in IPL:
3 Reasons why Rishabh Pant will not play for DC in IPL
Disagreement with new coaching staff
Rishabh Pant was reportedly unhappy with the new coaching appointments at DC, especially with Ricky Ponting’s replacement and the reduced role of Sourav Ganguly. Having worked closely with the previous management, Pant didn’t agree with the direction the new coaching staff was taking. This dissatisfaction led to his decision to part ways with Delhi Capitals after nine seasons.
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Ricky Ponting’s appointment as Punjab Kings coach might bring Pant along
Another reason DC might not bid for Rishabh Pant is that Punjab Kings, now coached by Ricky Ponting, are interested in him. Ponting knows Pant’s skills and leadership well from their time together at DC. With the largest purse of INR 110.5 Crore in the auction, Punjab Kings can easily afford to bid for Pant and bring him into their squad.
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Multiple teams will fight for Pant on the auction table
Punjab Kings will surely be interested in buying the star Indian wicketkeeper-batter, but other teams like Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) with INR 83 Crore, and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) with INR 69 Crore might also go behind him. With so many teams competing, the bidding war for Pant will be intense. This makes it difficult for DC to bring him back, as other teams may push the price higher than expected, affecting DC's auction strategy.
