Cricket

Rishabh Pant's departure from Delhi Capitals (DC) ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction has shed light on the behind-the-scenes dynamics that led to his release. Pant's nine-year association with the franchise ended abruptly, with Axar Patel being retained as the first choice.According to a report by PTI, Pant's dissatisfaction stemmed from the decisions made by co-owners GMR Group, who will manage the franchise for the next two years. The appointment of Hemang Badani as head coach and Venugopal Rao as Director of Cricket reportedly left Pant unhappy.Furthermore, Pant was reportedly displeased with the GMR Group's decision to curb his powers. Earlier reports suggested that DC was considering stripping Pant of the captaincy and handing it to Axar Patel.Pant's release is a significant development, given his status as one of the most sought-after players in the IPL. He has been a key member of the Indian team, winning the T20 World Cup 2024 as India's first-choice wicket-keeper batter.The changes at DC reflect the franchise's desire for a fresh start. Ricky Ponting, who had been the head coach for seven years, was replaced by Badani. Sourav Ganguly, the former Director of Cricket, was also replaced by Rao.Pant's departure is a reminder of the ever-changing nature of the IPL. Franchises are constantly looking to optimize their rosters, and even established players can find themselves on the move. Pant's release is a testament to the competitive nature of the league and the importance of player satisfaction.

Delhi Capitals, the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, has appointed former India cricketers Hemang Badani and Venugopal Rao as head coach and director of cricket, respectively. The announcement was made on Thursday ahead of the 2025 IPL season.Badani, 47, brings a wealth of coaching experience to the role. He has served as fielding coach with Sunrisers Hyderabad and batting coach with the same team in successive seasons. He also led the Jaffna Kings to two consecutive titles in the Lankan Premier League and was a batting coach for the title-winning Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the inaugural SA20. Most recently, he was the head coach of the Dubai Capitals, who reached this year's ILT20 final."It's my absolute honor to be joining Delhi Capitals, and I'm deeply grateful to our owners for trusting me with the job," Badani said. "With the mega auction around the corner, my job, in collaboration with the rest of our coaching staff, is cut out. I can't wait to get started."Rao, who has played 16 ODIs for India, was part of the Deccan Chargers squad that won the IPL in 2009. He also played in three IPL seasons for erstwhile Delhi Daredevils and has been associated with the Dubai Capitals, serving as a mentor in the inaugural season and later as director of cricket."My association with the franchise has been a long-standing one, and I am thankful for the trust our owners have placed in me by offering me this role," Rao said. "I look forward to this new challenge ahead of a new IPL cycle."The Capitals were runners-up in the 2021 edition but have struggled to reach the top four in the subsequent three seasons."We are delighted to welcome Hemang and Venu to Delhi Capitals. Both have been an integral part of our team for a long time, and we're excited to have them on board in a different role," said Kiran Kumar Grandhi, chairman & co-owner of Delhi Capitals. "With their proven track record as coaches, we're confident that their expertise will be invaluable in helping us achieve our objectives and drive success for Delhi Capitals."

Delhi Capitals have undergone a significant overhaul, with Sourav Ganguly stepping down as Director of Cricket and Venugopal Rao taking his place. This move comes amidst speculation about Rishabh Pant's future as captain.Ganguly, a former India captain and BCCI President, will now focus on the Women's Premier League team and the Pretoria Capitals in SA20. He had reportedly expressed interest in doubling up as the men's team head coach and Director of Cricket, but this did not materialize.The Capitals have also finalized their three retentions in Pant, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav. They are expected to use the Right-to-Match (RTM) card to buy back other players. Abhishek Porel, who showed promise last season, is a potential uncapped retention.Ahead of the mega auction, the Capitals will hold trials next week to identify potential targets. They have already identified three venues and will finalize them based on availability.The ongoing Ranji Trophy could hamper their plans, as most players are busy with their respective states. However, the franchise is short on time and will need to reach out to their targets before the auction, likely in the last week of November.The Capitals' captaincy picture remains unclear, with Pant's future in the role uncertain. The franchise is expected to make a decision in the coming days.