Wasim Jaffer Urges Pant to Skip Delhi Capitals Captaincy
Former India opener believes the wicketkeeper-batter should prioritize his own batting form over leadership burden.
Rishabh Pant is reportedly set to return to Delhi Capitals for IPL 2027, but former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has a clear message for him: decline the captaincy. Jaffer says Pant should focus on rediscovering his batting rhythm rather than taking on the extra pressure of leading a franchise.
Jaffer pointed to KL Rahul's experience with Delhi Capitals, where Rahul has thrived as a pure batter after stepping away from leadership duties at Lucknow Super Giants. According to Jaffer, captaincy brings immense stress from owners, fans, and expectations, which can distract a player who also keeps wickets and bats in the middle order.
Pant's recent IPL returns have been far from impressive. In two seasons as LSG captain, he managed just 581 runs in 26 innings at an average of 26.40, with only three fifty-plus scores — including a brilliant but losing 118* against Royal Challengers Bangalore. With Delhi Capitals having traded Kuldeep Yadav to bring Pant back, the team management may see him as a leader, but Jaffer insists Pant should say no for now and rebuild his confidence as a player.