‘Rishabh Pant met MS Dhoni in Delhi, someone will be wearing Yellow jersey soon…’, says THIS CSK legend

Rishabh Pant has met former Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni in Delhi recently and could be headed to a new club in IPL 2025 seaason.

One of the biggest players not to be retained on IPL 2025 Retention Day on Thursday (October 31) was Delhi Capitals wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant. The 27-year-old had a remarkable comeback into the T20 league in IPL 2024 this year after his horrific car crash in December 2022.

Pant scored 446 runs in 13 matches at an average of 40.55 with a strike-rate of 155.4 in IPL 2024 which earned him a spot in India’s T20 World Cup 2024-winning squad as well. There were a series of meetings between Pant and GMR Group, co-owners of Delhi Capitals before IPL 2025 Retention Day.

“Pant has had a cordial relationship with both owners. But it was getting difficult to have a common vision and direction where the team was headed. To get so many people on the same page at so many levels was something he was unsure of,” an IPL source was quoted as saying to TOI.

But as things stand, matters didn’t work out between Pant and the Delhi Capitals co-owners and the wicketkeeper will end his eight-year-long relationship with the club by going into the IPL 2025 mega auction this month. One the clubs interested in bringing Pant home is MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and this fact was confirmed by ‘Mr IPL’ and CSK legend Suresh Raina.

Speaking at JioCinema, Raina said, “I met MS Dhoni in Delhi, Pant was also there. I think something big is to happen. Someone will be wearing a yellow jersey soon.”

“I met MS Dhoni in Delhi and Rishabh Pant was also there with us. So someone will be wearing a yellow jersey soon”🦁

– Suresh Raina (Jio Cinema)#IPLRetention #Pant #CSK #Dhoni

pic.twitter.com/mABMWhsawC

— Mufaddal Bumrah (@IShowUpdates07) October 31, 2024

Notably, this comes amid several media reports that Pant is headed to CSK. The move would not be surprising if it ends up happening. With a 43-year-old Dhoni in the twilight of his career, Pant could very well by the next big-selling face for the franchise, be their wicketkeeper-batter or even captain, if needed.

In 111 matches for DC, Pant scored 3,284 runs at an average of 148.93, with a century and 17 fifties to his name. His best score is 128*. He is franchise’s leading run-getter. Under his captaincy, DC reached playoffs in 2021, but could not progress beyond league stages in 2022 and 2024 under his leadership.

DC have decided to retain all-rounder Axar Patel, spinner Kuldeep Yadav, batters Tristan Stubbs, and Abishek Porel ahead of this year’s mega auction.

Speaking on the occasion, team Chairman and co-owner Kiran Kumar Grandhi expressed, “I’m satisfied with our retentions, and believe we have a strong and balanced core around which we aim to build the rest of our squad. The mega auction is always an exciting and dynamic experience that often throws surprises. I wish all franchises and players the very best. I am confident that we will be able to put together a robust and terrific squad, capable of winning the trophy.”