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Rishabh Pant’s proposed return to the Delhi Capitals has dominated IPL headlines over the last 24 hours, but the former Lucknow Super Giants captain was close to joining another franchise before the deal took shape.
Before Delhi Capitals emerged as the frontrunners, Kolkata Knight Riders explored the possibility of bringing Rishabh Pant to Eden Gardens ahead of IPL 2027. However, the negotiations never progressed beyond the initial stages after Lucknow Super Giants reportedly demanded some of KKR’s most valuable players in return.
With Rishabh Pant set to leave Lucknow after a disappointing two-year stint, multiple franchises were understood to be monitoring the situation. KKR were among the most interested teams, but LSG’s asking price proved too steep for the three-time IPL champions.
KKR walked away from Rishabh Pant deal after LSG’s massive trade demand
According to a report by RevSportz, Kolkata Knight Riders made a serious attempt to acquire Rishabh Pant before his reunion with Delhi Capitals gathered momentum.
However, discussions quickly broke down after Lucknow Super Giants demanded either Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine or Varun Chakravarthy as part of the trade package. The reported demand left KKR with a difficult decision.
Rinku Singh has become one of the franchise’s biggest stars and is widely regarded as the face of KKR’s future. Sunil Narine remains one of the most influential all-rounders in the IPL, while Varun Chakravarthy continues to be a key figure in their bowling attack.
Rather than breaking up the core that has been built over several seasons, KKR decided against pursuing the deal any further and walked away from negotiations.
The decision appears understandable given the value those players bring to the franchise. While Pant remains one of India’s biggest stars, sacrificing established match-winners like Rinku, Narine or Varun would have significantly weakened KKR’s balance heading into IPL 2027.
Rishabh Pant’s return to Delhi Capitals explained
According to ESPNcricinfo, Delhi Capitals are set to acquire Rishabh Pant from Lucknow Super Giants in exchange for Kuldeep Yadav. Pant, who was bought by LSG for INR 27 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction, is expected to join DC on a revised salary of INR 15 crore.
The move comes after a difficult spell at Lucknow. Pant spent two seasons with the franchise but struggled both as captain and batter. Under his leadership, LSG won only 10 matches and lost 18. With the bat, he scored 581 runs at an average of 26.4 and a strike rate of 135.74, both below his career T20 standards.
His record at Delhi Capitals paints a completely different picture. Between 2021 and 2024, Pant led DC in 44 matches, winning 24 of them. During that period, he scored 1205 runs at an average of 35.44 and a strike rate close to 144.
How did Kolkata Knight Riders perform in IPL 2026?
KKR endured an inconsistent IPL 2026 campaign and narrowly missed out on a playoff spot. The Kolkata-based franchise finished seventh in the points table with 13 points from 14 matches. They won six games, lost seven and had one no-result, ending the season with a net run rate of -0.147.
KKR’s campaign never really gained sustained momentum. They lost five of their first six matches before recovering strongly with victories over Rajasthan Royals, Lucknow Super Giants, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians.
However, crucial defeats against Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals eventually proved costly. Their final league game ended in a heavy 40-run defeat to DC, effectively ending their playoff hopes.
