"Delhi Capitals, What Are You Doing?" Ex-India Star Slams Rishabh Pant, Zeeshan Ansari Trade Deals For IPL 2027

Rishabh Pant has been re-signed by DC, who are now coached by Sourav Ganguly© AFP

Delhi Capitals (DC) has been at the forefront of the Indian Premier League (IPL) trade window ahead of the 2027 season. With new head coach Sourav Ganguly at the helm, DC have wrapped up deals that have seen star wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant rejoin the team, as well as leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari sign. In exchange for the Pant deal, India spinner Kuldeep Yadav went to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). For the Ansari swap, veteran seamer T Natarajan went back to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Despite Delhi Capitals signing Pant on a significantly lower salary and freeing up Rs 10.35 crore in their purse due to the Natarajan trade, former India cricketer and reputed commentator Aakash Chopra believes they have been the losers in both deals.

"I ask this question Delhi, 'Are you better off?' How many spinners like Kuldeep Yadav are there in the country? It is almost impossible to replace Kuldeep. Did you need Rishabh Pant? He is a good player, but do you need him? Do you have a place in the middle order? LSG were beneficiaries in that deal," said Chopra, in a video on his official X account.

"Now you need a spinner to replace Kuldeep Yadav. You have Vipraj Nigam and Axar Patel, so you went for Zeeshan Ansari. You had to release T Natarajan, there is no doubt about it. You may also have to release Auqib Nabi and Mukesh Kumar as well. But after all this, are you better off? That is the question you must need to ask. I must say, I am not convinced yet," he added.

"As far as the trades are concerned, LSG would be the happier from the Kuldeep-Pant trade, and now SRH will be happier. So Delhi, what exactly are you guys doing?" Chopra claimed.

Delhi Capitals have failed to qualify for the playoffs in each of the last five seasons, and have been active in recent months to fix their squad. Ganguly has joined as head coach, while legendary India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh is now the batting coach of the franchise.

The deals for Pant and Ansari, and the departures of Kuldeep and Natarajan, will also allow DC to have more funds to spend in the IPL 2027 mini-auction, which takes place in mid-December.

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