‘Bhai, main wapas aa raha hu’: Axar Patel ignored Rishabh Pant’s call twice before learning about Delhi Capitals return

After a disappointing two-year stint at Lucknow Super Giants, Rishabh Pant is back on familiar territory after a trade between LSG and the Delhi Capitals was finalised. With both teams enduring difficult IPL (Indian Premier League) campaigns, especially the Super Giants, change was inevitable. After Pant was removed as captain, his future at the franchise was always under scrutiny. And on Tuesday, his time at LSG finally came to an end as he returned to his former team, the Capitals, taking a pay cut of ₹12 crore.

Once the deal was completed, one of the first people Pant called was Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel. While Pant may or may not replace Axar as DC captain, the wicketkeeper's immediate priority was simply to share the news with his India teammate. Axar initially missed Pant's call before finally hearing the good news.

Also Read: How the widely-hyped Rishabh Pant-LSG bonhomie went up in smoke

"He was the first person to call me. These days, I spend a lot of time with my child, so I usually keep my phone aside. I missed his first call, and when he called again, I still couldn't answer. Later, after my child had fallen asleep, I called him back and asked, 'What happened? Is something urgent?'

"He replied, 'Bhai, it's confirmed. Main wapas aa raha hu (I'm coming back).'

“That was our first conversation. After that, we just spoke normally. Yes, he's finally coming back. Deep down, I always felt he would, though I never told him, 'Subah ka bhula jab shaam ko ghar aaye usey bhoola nahi kehte' (A person who returns home after straying is not considered lost). But my affection for him is such that I brought him back to Delhi.”

Pant was with the Delhi Capitals for eight seasons, from 2016 to 2024, before joining LSG ahead of IPL 2025. He captained DC for four seasons, winning 23 of his 43 matches in charge. For now, Pant returns home as a player, with Axar expressing nothing but full support for his friend.

Axar lends his support

"All I know is that, as captain, I'll give him complete freedom. Even before this, our relationship was never really about one person leading the other. He was my captain, but we always worked with mutual understanding. We were both senior players and knew what needed to be done," added Axar.

"As a friend and captain, the only thing I'll tell him is not to take any extra pressure, whether from me or from the franchise. This is his home. He's played here before, so I just want him to enjoy himself. He should stay true to his character, and everything else will fall into place."

Axar, Pant in the same boat

Four teams, in particular, endured disappointing IPL 2026 campaigns: LSG, DC, KKR and MI. Pant was already released as captain, while Axar Patel and Ajinkya Rahane are expected next in the firing line. LSG fared the worst, finishing bottom of the points table, with the Mumbai Indians just one place above them. DC and KKR ended sixth and seventh, respectively, with 14 and 13 points.

The captains did little to justify their positions either. Axar picked up 11 wickets and scored just 173 runs in 14 matches, while Rahane also struggled, managing only 335 runs from the same number of games. Pant endured a sorry season as well, scoring just 312 runs. Although that was an improvement on his 2025 tally of 269 runs, it was not enough to save his place at LSG, who had shelled out ₹27 crore to sign him at the IPL 2025 mega auction.

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