Rishabh Pant Returns to DC After Pay Cut, Kuldeep Yadav Joins LSG in IPL Trade
Rishabh Pant makes a sensational return to Delhi Capitals from Lucknow Super Giants in a blockbuster IPL trade confirmed on June 23, 2026. The wicketkeeper-batter takes a significant pay cut to rejoin DC, while star spinner Kuldeep Yadav moves to LSG. This high-profile swap redefines team compositions for the IPL 2027 season, with both franchises aiming.
In a blockbuster announcement that has sent ripples across the Indian Premier League (IPL) landscape, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is set to make a sensational return to his former franchise, Delhi Capitals (DC). The high-profile trade deal, confirmed on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, sees star spinner Kuldeep Yadav move in the opposite direction, joining the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The swap, ratified by the IPL governing council, reshapes the dynamics of both teams ahead of the IPL 2027 season. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Receives India T20I Kit, 15-Year-Old Opener to Don Jersey Number 3.
Pant, 28, who previously spent nine seasons with the Delhi Capitals from 2016 to 2024, returns home after a challenging two-year stint with the Lucknow Super Giants. The left-handed batter had become the most expensive player in IPL history when LSG acquired him for a staggering INR 27 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction. However, his tenure with LSG saw a dip in form and team performance, managing 269 runs in 2025 and 312 runs in the recently concluded IPL 2026 season. Under his captaincy, LSG finished at the bottom of the points table in IPL 2026, leading to his resignation as skipper.
Rishabh Pant's Pay Cut for Delhi Homecoming
His return to Delhi Capitals comes at a revised fee of INR 15 crore, marking a substantial pay cut of INR 12 crore from his record-breaking LSG contract. This move signals Pant's desire to reunite with a franchise where he enjoyed considerable success, having captained DC in 43 matches across four seasons and making 111 appearances, the most by any player for the Capitals.
Blockbuster IPL Trade Confirmed
🚨 Announcement 🚨
Rishabh Pant and Kuldeep Yadav complete high-profile trade between @DelhiCapitals and @LucknowIPL.
Rishabh Pant all set to rejoin #DC at INR 15 Crore whereas Kuldeep Yadav will join #LSG at INR 13.5 Crore.
More Details ▶️ https://t.co/64HeOX143I… pic.twitter.com/tIEvj7fgNo
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 23, 2026
Kuldeep Yadav Heads to Lucknow
Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav, a 31-year-old left-arm wrist-spinner, embarks on a new chapter with the Lucknow Super Giants at his existing fee of INR 13.50 crore. Kuldeep has been a pivotal figure for Delhi Capitals since joining them in 2022, establishing himself as one of the tournament's most effective wicket-taking bowlers. In his five seasons with DC, he scalped 72 wickets in 65 matches, including being the leading wicket-taker for the Capitals in the 2025 season with 15 dismissals.
| Player | From Team | To Team | Trade Value (INR) | Previous IPL Auction Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rishabh Pant | Lucknow Super Giants | Delhi Capitals | 15 Crore | 27 Crore (IPL 2025) |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Delhi Capitals | Lucknow Super Giants | 13.50 Crore | 13.25 Crore (IPL 2025 retention by DC) |
The trade deal is expected to provide both franchises with a fresh impetus. Delhi Capitals will welcome back a familiar face and a dynamic leader in Pant, while Lucknow Super Giants gain a proven match-winner and a world-class spinner in Kuldeep Yadav, who also hails from Uttar Pradesh, adding a local connection for the Lucknow-based franchise. This strategic swap is poised to be a key talking point leading up to the IPL 2027 player auction and team strategies for renewed success and strategic advantage.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 23, 2026 02:21 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
