Sadagoppan Ramesh Questions Rishabh Pant’s IPL Move, Says Money Didn’t Bring Happiness After LSG Stint

Former India cricketer Sadagoppan Ramesh has delivered a strong verdict on the blockbuster Rishabh Pant-Kuldeep Yadav trade ahead of IPL 2027, claiming that the wicketkeeper-batter prioritized money over happiness when he left Delhi Capitals (DC) for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

Pant ended his long association with Delhi Capitals ahead of the IPL 2025 auction and was bought by Lucknow Super Giants for a record-breaking ₹27 crore. However, the move failed to produce the expected results as both Pant and LSG endured disappointing campaigns over the next two seasons.

Ramesh Criticizes Pant’s Decision to Leave Delhi Capitals

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ramesh revealed that Delhi Capitals were keen to retain Pant and had offered him a lucrative contract before he entered the auction pool.

“DC never wanted to let go of Pant and never released him even in 2024. They were ready to negotiate with him and urged him not to leave. But Pant was adamant on entering the auction to go for a higher price despite DC offering him 20 to 25 crores,” Ramesh said.

The former opener suggested that Pant’s pursuit of a bigger payday ultimately did not provide the satisfaction he expected.

“So he prioritised money but did not get the happiness he wanted with LSG. Otherwise, he would not have left LSG for DC,” he added.

Delhi Capitals Benefit From Pant’s Return

Ramesh also highlighted how Delhi Capitals managed to bring Pant back for a significantly lower price after originally attempting to retain him.

While DC reportedly went up to ₹21 crore during the auction process, Pant has now returned to the franchise in a trade deal worth ₹15 crore, making it a financially beneficial move for the Delhi-based team.

“DC went till 21 crores for Pant in the auction. Yet they’ve got him again now for 15 crores. So it’s turned out to be a clever move from DC,” Ramesh remarked.

He further explained that massive auction prices often bring additional pressure on players, which can negatively impact performances.

“When the price is high, the pressure to perform becomes exponentially higher and that leads to a drop in performance. That’s the lesson to be learnt from the Rishabh Pant situation,” he stated.

LSG Receive Kuldeep Yadav in Blockbuster Swap

The trade sees Pant return to his former franchise while star spinner Kuldeep Yadav moves to Lucknow Super Giants. Ramesh believes LSG have emerged as the bigger winners from the deal due to Kuldeep’s consistency with the ball.

The former batter described Kuldeep as a reliable wicket-taking option capable of delivering match-winning performances every season.

“LSG is at the advantageous situation with this trade. Kuldeep has the potential to bowl 336 deliveries in a season, so his chances of taking 20 wickets are extremely high,” Ramesh said.

He added that Kuldeep’s proven wicket-taking record makes him a safer investment compared to relying on Pant for a high-volume run-scoring season.

“Barring one bad season this year, Kuldeep generally takes close to 15 wickets every season. For Rishabh Pant to match that value, he has to score 450 to 500 runs. LSG is at a definite advantage because Kuldeep’s chances of picking up 15 to 20 wickets are much higher than Pant scoring 450-plus runs,” he concluded.

Pant Looks to Revive Career at Delhi Capitals

Pant spent the first nine years of his IPL career with Delhi Capitals and captained the franchise between 2021 and 2024, apart from the injury-affected 2023 season. After two underwhelming years with Lucknow Super Giants, the explosive left-hander will now look to rediscover his best form in familiar surroundings.

Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants will hope Kuldeep Yadav’s arrival strengthens their bowling attack as they target a return to the IPL playoffs in 2027.