‘Know Who We Want’: DC Owner ‘Leaves The Door Open For Players Who Have Worn The Dc Shirt In The Past’ – News18

Last Updated:October 31, 2024, 23:22 IST

Rishabh Pant’s nine-year association with Delhi Capitals officially ended after he was not retained by DC.

Delhi Capitals announced the retention of Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs and Abishek Porel ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction. There was one big name that was missing as Rishabh Pant’s nine-year association with Delhi-based franchise officially ended on Thursday.

DC’s ownership structure is a complicated one with co-owners GMR and JSW getting powers to control management for two years at a time. Hence Pant, who is a JSW recruit, wasn’t the top choice for GMR management headed by co-owner Kiran Grandhi.

Moment GMR took charge, they removed earlier coaching management including former Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly and brought in Venugopal Rao.

If sources are to be believed, Pant wasn’t exactly very pleased with appointment of Rao and Hemang Badani, who possibly would have been given powers to overrule the skipper.

Discussions over the last month didn’t yield any result and Pant didn’t want to work with unfamiliar coaching staff thrust on him by the new management.

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In a official release, DC Chairman and co-owner Kiran Kumar Grandhi explained the move to retain the four players.

“I’m satisfied with our retentions, and believe we have a strong and balanced core around which we aim to build the rest of our squad. The mega auction is always an exciting and dynamic experience that often throws surprises. I wish all franchises and players the very best. I am confident that we will be able to put together a robust and terrific squad, capable of winning the trophy,” Gandhi said.

DC eam co-owner Parth Jindal though revealed that some players who have not been retained, might be brought back from through the auction.

“In Axar, Kuldeep, Tristan and Abishek we have the ideal blend of experience and youth, and I am very pleased with our retentions. I would have liked to retain more players who have turned out for DC, but the rules mean we have to pick strategically. Going into the auction we will have two RTM cards and that leaves the door open for players who have worn the DC shirt in the past, to carry on with us. We know who we want and will make sure to get some if not all the players back. With this important milestone behind us, the team is working tirelessly on the mega auction. Our intent is to build a strong and balanced squad that can bring home a much-awaited IPL trophy to our city,” Jindal said.

(With inputs from Agencies)