24 June,2026 05:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Axar Patel and Rishabh Pant (Pic: BCCI)
Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel has expressed his joy following the official announcement that seasoned wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant is returning to the franchise for the upcoming IPL season.
In one of the most high-profile player swaps in recent IPL history, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant has been traded back to DC. In exchange, the franchise's premium spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, is headed to Lucknow.
As part of the transfer agreement, Pant's IPL salary is set to take a substantial hit, with the player moving back to the Capitals at a revised valuation of Rs 15 crore. Similarly, Kuldeep will retain his existing contract value of Rs 13.50 crore as he transitions to his new team.
Celebrating the reunion, Delhi Capitals (DC) uploaded a video on Instagram featuring Patel extending a warm welcome to his longtime teammate.
"When he was here before, he was my captain, and he was leading me. At that time, we didn't have anything like 'I am the captain, I will tell you this and that'. We used to work in mutual understanding. He knows that he is a senior player, and I know that I am a senior player. We had a mutual understanding of what he can do best in a particular situation and what he can't," Patel said in the video.
Axar Patel emphasised that the Indian star will face no pressure from the franchise and will be encouraged to play his natural game.
"As a friend and as a captain, I will tell him that he knows that he doesn't have any extra pressure from me or from the franchise. This is his own house; he has played here for many years. Delhi is his home, so I don't have to say much to him. I just know that he will get full freedom as a captain from my side." Axar Patel added.
Pant initially kicked off his IPL journey back in 2016 with the Delhi franchise (formerly known as the Delhi Daredevils). He went on to spend eight seasons with the team before making a move to LSG in 2025, following a historic bid of Rs 27 crore at the mega auction.
(With ANI inputs)
