More money? New coach Hemang Badani reveals why Rishabh Pant left Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL auction

Days after Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal said Rishabh Pant’s departure was not about money, their new head coach Hemang Badani gave a contrasting reason for the goalkeeper’s departure -drummer. Badani said Delhi were keen to retain Pant, but their former captain intended to “test the market” at the mega IPL auction, held on November 24-25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Hemang Badani said Rishabh Pant felt he could get more money than the highest cap for retained players – which was Rs 18 crore.

Pant was eventually released by the Delhi franchise. At the mega auction, he broke the all-time record for the most expensive purchase in was sold to Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 27 crore. Delhi Capitals tried to use the Right to Match card and buy back Pant for Rs 21 crore. However, Lucknow increased the bid to Rs 27 crore, leaving the rest of the auction house stunned. Ultimately, LSG reached this historic agreement.

“I think it’s the other way around. He didn’t want to be retained. He said he wanted to participate in the auction and test the market. If you want to retain a player, both parties (the team and the player ) have to agree on We tried to talk to him, the management tried to talk to him There were a lot of phone calls and messages exchanged,” Hemang Badani told Subramaniam Badrinath in a YouTube show. .

“Yes (Delhi Capitals were interested in retaining him). He said he wanted to go to the auction and test the brand. He said he felt there was a chance he would get more money than the highest ceiling for retained players, which is Rs 18 crore.

“And, at the end of the day, he felt he was worth more. And the market said the same thing. He got Rs 27 crore. Good for him. He’s a very good player. He’s obviously going to be missed . But, life goes on,” he added.

Badani’s version of the turn of events contrasts with earlier statements by Pant and co-owner Jindal. Pant denied speculation about his departure in a tweet before the mega auction.

“My retention was not about money, that’s for sure I can say,” said Rishabh Pant, responding to a video in which Sunil Gavaskar had said that the wicketkeeper and the franchise do not maybe didn’t agree on money.

Parth Jindal, meanwhile, had said that money was not an issue for either side, and pointed out that Pant had not taken on board the comments as well as they had hoped.

“We gave him feedback. The feedback wasn’t taken the way we hoped. And yes, that’s okay. He got an emotional call. He grew up in this franchise as well. He was a young boy when he started. Delhi Daredevils gave him the opportunity. Kiran gave him his first opportunity. I came into the franchise later and developed a very strong bond with him,” Jindal told India Today in an interview. .

Delhi Capitals eventually bought KL Rahul for Rs 14 crore and also bought Mitchell Starc for Rs 11 crore while doing smart business in the auction.

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