Rishabh Pant on Tuesday has opened up why he was not retained by Delhi Capitals and said “money” was not the reason he went back to the auction.

Pant was roped in for Rs 1.9 crore by Delhi in the IPL 2016 auction and has been retained by the franchise ever since was integral part of the Delhi franchise. However, he has been released by the Capitals this year ahead of the IPL mega auction.

Sunil Gavaskar while talking to Star Sports has pointed out that Pant might have left Delhi because of the disagreement over the money and the Capitals might get him back at the auction.

My retention wasn’t about the money for sure that I can say ????

— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) November 19, 2024

“See suctions are completely different. So we don’t know how it would go. But what I feel is that Delhi would certainly want Rishabh Pant back in their squad,” said Sunil Gavaskar.

“Sometimes you know when the player is to be retained there is a talk between the franchise and the player about the expected fees.

“As you can see some of the players who have been retained by their franchise. They have gone for more than say what the number one retention fee deduction would be so clearly I think maybe there was some disagreement over there but my feeling is that Delhi would definitely want Rishabh pant back.

“Because they need a captain as well. If Rishabh Pant is not their squad then they have to look for a new captain as well so my feeling is Delhi will definitely go for Rishabh Pant,” he added.

Replying to the video posted by Star Sports on X, Pant said: “My retention wasn’t about the money for sure that I can say.”

Pant appeared in 111 matches for the Capitals, scoring over 3284 runs with a century and 18 half-centuries. Despite missing out on the entirety of 2023 due to his unfortunate car accident, Pant was retained by the Capitals. He returned as skipper in IPL 2024, scoring 446 runs, as Capitals failed to make the Playoffs.