Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has addressed claims made by legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar regarding his exit from Delhi Capitals (DC) ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Gavaskar had suggested that disagreements over retention fees led to Pant’s departure from the franchise he had been part of since 2016.

Rishabh Pant left Delhi Capitals because of a disagreement over fees, opines Sunil Gavaskar

In a video shared by Star Sports, Gavaskar had speculated on the possible reasons behind Pant’s exit, stating, “Delhi would certainly want Rishabh Pant back in the squad. Sometimes, when a player is to be retained, there is talk between the player and franchise about the fees that are expected. Some players who have been retained have gone for more than the No. 1 retention fee. Maybe there was some disagreement there.”

Gavaskar also emphasized Delhi’s need for a captain, expressing doubt about their plans without Pant. “My feeling is Delhi would definitely want Pant back because they need a captain as well. If Rishabh Pant is not in their squad, then they have to look for a new captain,” he added.

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Pant reacts to Gavaskar’s comments

Pant, now entering the mega auction scheduled for November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, firmly denied these claims.

Reacting to Gavaskar’s comments, Pant stated, “My retention wasn’t about the money, for sure that I can say.” His response, shared widely online, hints at deeper issues with the Capitals management, marking a public fallout with the franchise he once led.

Pant’s decade-long association with the Delhi-based franchise saw him play 111 matches, amassing 3,284 runs, making him the franchise’s leading run-scorer. Elevated to captaincy in 2021, Pant led Delhi to a single playoff appearance since, sparking questions about the team’s direction. Despite his contributions, the franchise chose to retain Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs and Abishek Porel, signalling a shift in their strategy.

With Pant opting to go to the auction, Delhi are now searching for a new Indian batter and captain. Names like Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul are reportedly under consideration as they look to rebuild their core.

Meanwhile, Pant remains focused on his international commitments, with India set to face Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting November 22 in Perth. His performance in the Test series will be closely watched ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, where franchises are expected to bid aggressively for the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter.

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