Vishwas Puri
Indian wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant is all set to be retained by
the IPL franchise Delhi capitals ahead of the mega auctions for IPL
2025. Earlier, there were rumours that Delhi Capitals is likely to
release Rishabh Pant ahead of the IPL 2025, and other teams are
looking to buy Rishabh Pant. But after the sensational comeback by
Rishabh Pant in the test cricket by striking a century after returning
to test cricket after 18 months, Rishabh has proved his worth to all
the people doubting his skillset.
Rishabh Pant has been leading the franchise since IPL 2021, but was
ruled out of IPL 2023 due to his recovery process after an unfortunate
road accident in IPL 2023. He made his comeback in cricket in IPL 2024
and was also the part of the World Cup 2024 winning squad. He was the
third highest scorer for the Indian team in the World Cup. However,
the retention rules are yet to be announced.
Sources revealed that DC is likely to keep Rishabh Pant as their
captain and the first retention. Apart from Rishabh Pant, the
franchise has a strategized number of a few more retentions according
to the number of retentions allowed, if 4 retentions are allowed, the
franchise will most likely retain Axar Patel as their second
retention, as he was the key factor for the for the Indian team for
the T20 World Cup 2024. He can be someone who can can bat up the order
as well as finish the game too along with his bowling, which makes him
the perfect option for the second retention. After Axar, the franchise
is likely to show trust on the chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav, who has
also been associated with the franchise since IPL 2022 and has been a
key bowler for the franchise since then. While the overseas retentions
would likely be among the two players, Jake Fraser McGurk and Triston
Stubbs. Jake Fraser Mcgurk who was signed as a replacement for Lungi
Ngidi, struck 330 runs in 9 matches at a brisk strike rate of 234.5,
which makes him a suitable retention for the franchise. Alongside,
Stubbs has also played 18 IPL matches and has scored 405 runs at a
strike rate of 137.5 If the franchise will allow 5 retentions, the
franchise will probably retain both of them. And in case if another
uncapped retention will be allowed, the franchise is looking to retain
another wicketkeeper batter, Abhishek Porel, as an uncapped player.
However, all these things are dependent on the retention rules, which
are yet to be announced. The BCCI is likely to appoint the retention
rules by the end of September after the AGM meeting.
