Delhi Capitals’ co-owner Parth Jindal has revealed that the team’s captain Rishabh Pant will definitely be retained ahead of the mega auction. According to new retention rules released by the IPL governing council, every franchise can retain a maximum of six players through retention or Right to Match card. 

Pant scored 446 runs in 13 matches of IPL 2024 at an average of 40.55 and a strike rate of 155.40 and finished as DC’s highest run-getter after making a comeback from multiple serious injuries, which he suffered in a horrific car accident.

Ergo, Pant was added to India’s T20 World Cup squad. Pant was backed by Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma to bat at number three and scored 171 runs in eight matches at an average of 24.43 to play an instrumental role in the team’s success.

Furthermore, Pant made a terrific return to Test cricket and scored a fine knock of 109 runs in the second innings of the opening Test against Bangladesh at Chennai.

Parth Jindal told IANS, “Yes, we definitely have to retain. We have some very good players in our team. The rules have just come out, so after discussing with GMR and our director of cricket, Sourav Ganguly, decisions will be made. Rishabh Pant will definitely be retained.

Jindal added they have quality players like Axar Patel, Triston Stubbs, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Kuldeep Yadav, Abishek Porel, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed and they will have their plans in place ahead of the auction.

“We also have Axar Patel, who is excellent, Triston Stubbs, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Kuldeep Yadav, Abishek Porel, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, all very good players in our team. We’ll see what happens in the auction. But first, as per the rule, we can retain six players. After discussions, we will proceed with the auction and see what happens…” he added.

Meanwhile, DC could not qualify for the playoffs in the previous season of the IPL and they will be determined to turn the tables in the next edition.