"Pant should be the first retention" - Harbhajan Singh suggests IPL 2025 retention strategy for Delhi Capitals
Amid some drama over Rishabh Pant's future with the Delhi Capitals (DC) franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh reckons that DC should retain their keeper-batter and captain. He further opined that Delhi might not retain any uncapped players.
Earlier this month, Pant shared a cryptic post on his social media handle, asking fans how much he would be sold if he went to the auction. The post led to speculations over whether the star cricketer's association with the Delhi franchise might be coming to an end.
While there have been no confirmations over the rumor, Harbhajan believes that DC should retain the dynamic cricketer. Speaking in a Star Sports video, he said:
"About Delhi Capitals, we have heard a lot of things around whether Rishabh Pant will be retained or not. Only time will tell. But if I were a part of the management, I would definitely retain him."
The 44-year-old picked Axar Patel, Tristan Stubbs, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Mitchell Marsh as his other four retention choices for DC for the IPL 2025 season.
"Pant should be the first retention, followed by Axar Patel, then Tristan Stubbs. The fourth retention, as I see it, should be Jake Fraser-McGurk; and if you want to retain a fifth player, it could be Mitchell Marsh," the former India cricketer added.
Pant made a comeback to competitive cricket during IPL 2024. He made an impressive return, hammering 446 runs in 13 matches at an average of 40.55 and a strike rate of 155.40, with three half-centuries. DC, though, failed to make the playoffs, finishing sixth in the points table with seven wins and as many losses.
"I don't find any other player they would want to retain" - Harbhajan Singh on Delhi Capitals' uncapped retention
While Harbhajan picked five players when it came to Delhi Capitals' capped retentions, he opined that the franchise might not go in for an uncapped retention ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. The former cricketer commented:
"I don't find any other player they would want to retain. So I think Delhi Capitals should retain 4-5 players and pick the remaining squad from the (auction) pool."
An uncapped retention ahead of the auction will cost a franchise ₹4 crore. Meanwhile, October 31 has been set as the deadline for all 10 IPL franchises to confirm their retention list for the 2025 season.