# Pant’s Coming Home! Rishabh Pant Returns to Delhi Capitals as DC and LSG Complete IPL’s Biggest Trade of 2026

URL: https://technosports.co.in/rishabh-pant-returns-to-delhi-capitals/  
Published: 2026-06-23  
Updated: 2026-06-23  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

It’s official — and cricket Twitter is buzzing. In one of the most significant player trades in recent IPL history, **Rishabh Pant** is heading back to **Delhi Capitals** while **Kuldeep Yadav** makes the move to **Lucknow Super Giants**, with the BCCI formally ratifying the deal ahead of IPL 2027.

### Rishabh Pant Trade — Key Details

| Detail | Rishabh Pant | Kuldeep Yadav |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Moving To | Delhi Capitals (DC) | Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) |
| Trade Fee | ₹15 Crore | ₹13.5 Crore |
| Previous Fee | ₹27 Crore (LSG, 2025 auction) | ₹13.5 Crore |
| Pay Cut | ₹12 Crore | None |
| DC Appearances | 111 (most ever for DC) | 65 (72 wickets) |
| IPL 2026 Form | 312 runs, 14 games | 10 wickets, 11 innings |

### Why This Trade Makes Sense for Both Teams

Pant’s two-season stint at LSG was, by any measure, a disappointment. As captain, he won just 10 and lost 18 matches — with LSG finishing **last in IPL 2026**. Two days before the IPL 2026 final, Pant voluntarily stepped down from captaincy. It was clear a reset was needed for both parties.

For DC, this is a **homecoming story** fans have been waiting for. Pant made **111 appearances** for the franchise between 2016 and 2024 — the most by any player in DC’s history — and captained the side across four seasons. He returns now, wiser and hungrier, even if at a reduced fee of ₹15 crore.

![Rishabh Pant](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/rstst-1024x576.webp)

The [Indian Premier League](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Premier_League) player trade window allows franchises to exchange retained players before auctions, and this deal is already being called one of the most high-profile trades the format has seen.

For more IPL trade news and cricket updates, visit [TechnoSports’ cricket section](https://technosports.co.in/cricket/).

### Kuldeep Yadav — A Homecoming of His Own

Kuldeep’s move to LSG is equally poetic. The left-arm wrist spinner, who plays domestic cricket for **Uttar Pradesh**, will now represent the IPL franchise from his home state. Over five seasons at DC (2022–2026), he claimed **72 wickets in 65 matches** at an economy of 8.24 — a solid record, though IPL 2026 was a difficult year personally.

### Auction Purse Impact

- **LSG** gains ₹13.75 crore in auction purse (Pant’s ₹27 crore outgoing minus Kuldeep’s ₹13.25 crore incoming)
- **DC** loses ₹1.25 crore from their purse to accommodate Pant at ₹15 crore

Stay updated on all IPL 2027 squad moves and auction strategies at [TechnoSports](https://technosports.co.in/cricket/).

## FAQs

### **Q: Why did Rishabh Pant take a ₹12 crore pay cut to join DC?**

After two disappointing seasons as LSG captain — finishing last in IPL 2026 — Pant chose to return to his original franchise DC at ₹15 crore, accepting the cut for a fresh start in familiar territory.

### **Q: How did Kuldeep Yadav perform at Delhi Capitals before joining LSG?**

Kuldeep was one of DC’s most consistent performers, picking up 72 wickets in 65 matches at an economy of 8.24 across five seasons from 2022 to 2026.