Rishabh Pant's pay cut paves way for DC-LSG trade involving Kuldeep Yadav

Not even a month since the IPL season concluded, there have already been a few major movers and shakers, chief among them being Rishabh Pant, besides, of course, a couple of other big names - Kuldeep Yadav and Yuvraj Singh. Cricbuzz has reliably learnt that the wicketkeeper-batter is set to return to Delhi, where a new management structure is expected to be put in place.

With Parth Jindal's JSW set to hold the reins of the franchise for the next two years, Delhi Capitals have initiated a trade with Lucknow Super Giants. The arrangement will see Pant return to Delhi Capitals, the franchise he represented for nine seasons before being released ahead of the 2025 IPL auction. Cricbuzz had reported on May 29 about the possibility of a trade involving Pant.

The trade will involve Kuldeep Yadav moving to Lucknow, with the player swap completing a homecoming of sorts for both Pant and Kuldeep, who played their domestic cricket for Delhi and Uttar Pradesh respectively. There is no immediate information on the exact details of the transaction, but it can be confirmed that Pant is set to take a substantial pay cut as part of the move.

The biggest obstacle to a Pant trade was his record-breaking salary of Rs 27 crore. It was not immediately feasible for a franchise to accommodate a player of such a high fee. It is learnt that Pant agreed to lower his expectations to facilitate the move, much like Ravindra Jadeja did when he joined Rajasthan Royals last season.

It is understood that Pant's revised fee will still be marginally higher than half his current salary, with sources indicating that the keeper-batter has agreed for a fee of around Rs 15 crore. Kuldeep's remuneration, meanwhile, will remain unchanged at Rs 13.25 crore at Lucknow Super Giants.

Pant's exit from LSG had become increasingly likely after the management concluded that the franchise needed a new direction and leadership. Even before the IPL season ended, it had been agreed by all parties that Pant would step down as captain. Under his leadership, LSG endured two underwhelming seasons, culminating in a bottom-of-the-table finish this year.

Pant played 111 matches for Delhi Capitals between 2016 and 2024, missing the entire 2023 season because of injury. He captained the franchise in 43 matches across three seasons before being released ahead of the 2025 mega auction following disagreements with the DC management, under GMR group, over a few issues.

However, JSW's Jindal has always been an admirer of Pant and is understood to have backed the move to bring him back to the franchise. It is unlikely that Pant will return as captain of the side, even if there is a change in leadership at the team going forward.

Meanwhile, information has emerged that Yuvraj Singh will join the coaching staff of the Delhi Capitals side. With JSW at the helm of management, Sourav Ganguly returns to the side as head of cricketing affairs and he is believed to have roped in former India all-rounder as a member of the coaching staff. With the return of Ganguly, there is unlikely to be any role for Hemang Badani, the head coach of the side for the last two seasons.

Delhi Capitals finished sixth in the just-concluded season under Badani and captain Axar Patel. The team made a strong start to the campaign but, much like Punjab Kings, lost fizz in the second half of the season and eventually missed out on a playoff berth.

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