After spending two seasons at Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Rishabh Pant will once again turn up for Delhi Capitals (DC) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Pant, who represented DC from IPL 2016 to 2024, was released by the franchise before the IPL 2025 mega-auction. LSG made a record bid of Rs 27 crore to buy him and they appointed him their new captain. LSG struggled under Pant’s captaincy and failed to qualify for the second round of both seasons. They finished in the last position in the IPL 2026 points table.

Since Pant was DC’s captain when he was released, it remains to be seen if he is once again bestowed with the top job. Wasim Jaffer has shared his take on DC’s captaincy and opined that Pant should decline the offer if it comes.

“If Delhi Capitals even offer him the captaincy, I think it is better for him to say no. You know, the way KL has done it, he is enjoying his time as a player. There is a lot of pressure when you have to lead a franchise, the pressure from the owners, the expectations, the pressure from the fans, plus you have to focus on your own performance. On top of that, he is also a wicketkeeper and has to bat,” Jaffer said on his YouTube channel.

Jaffer added that it would be better for Pant to take the field as a player and try to force his way back into the white-ball teams. Pant, who was a member of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup-winning team, hasn’t played a T20I for two years. He has also lost his place in the ODI team.

“I think it is better for him to play as a player because, you know, his performance has come down. Again, I feel Rishabh’s priority should be to perform well in the IPL and make his way back into the T20I and ODI teams. Captaincy is not his priority because he is not currently in India’s leadership group where he could become the captain. I think he needs to keep that aside and focus on performing as a batter, winning matches for his franchise as a batsman. I think that is what is best for Rishabh Pant,” Jaffer added.

Pant replaced Shreyas Iyer as DC’s captain for the first half of IPL 2021 and retained the top job upon Iyer’s return. Pant-led DC registered 23 wins in 43 matches. LSG struggled under him and only managed 10 wins in 28 matches.

Disclaimer: This article summarizes a report by Wasim Jaffer. While Times Now has verified the public data presented, the interpretations of ‘intent’ remain those of the creator.