Former India batsman Wasim Jaffer has publicly recommended Rishabh Pant to decline the Delhi Capitals captaincy ahead of the IPL 2027, stating that a slump in form means Pant’s energy is best spent repairing his batting than shouldering leadership responsibilities.
Pant rejoined the Delhi Capitals after a deal was completed following IPL 2026. He was sold to Lucknow Super Giants for INR 27 crore at the 2025 mega auction, the highest price paid for any player at the time, before being returned to Delhi for INR 15 crore.
Kuldeep Yadav moved in the opposite direction, joining Lucknow for INR 13.50 crore.If the Delhi Capitals ever offer him the captaincy, I believe it is best for him to decline. “I believe it is better for him to play as a player because his performance has declined,” Wasim Jaffer stated on his YouTube channel.
Why does Wasim Jaffer believe Pant is unsuitable for captaincy at the moment?
Wasim Jaffer reasoning is around the weight of responsibility that comes with heading an IPL club, and how that burden could exacerbate the pressure Pant is currently under as a wicketkeeper-batsman attempting to recapture his best form.
He cited Pant’s international ambitions as a reason to avoid discussing the captaincy.When you head a franchise, you have a lot of pressure from the owners, expectations, and fans, as well as having to focus on your own performance.
In addition, he is a wicketkeeper who must bat. I believe he should put it aside and focus on his performance as a batter, winning matches for his franchise as a batsman. I believe that is best for Rishabh Pant.
I believe Rishabh’s top aim will be to perform well in the IPL and re-establish himself in the T20I and ODI teams. Captaincy will not be his first priority because he is not currently part of India’s leadership group, where he could become captain,” Wasim Jaffer added.
Pant’s two seasons in Lucknow yielded little benefit at the team level. LSG finished seventh in the IPL 2025 and tenth in the IPL 2026, demonstrating why a fresh start centred just on batting is appealing.
Who may lead the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2027?
According to reports from August 2026, KL Rahul has emerged as the leading candidate for the Delhi Capitals captaincy after Pant reportedly denied the post. The franchise finished sixth in the IPL 2026, with seven wins from 14 league matches under Axar Patel, but missed the playoffs.
Pant’s record as Delhi Capitals captain between 2021 and 2024 indicates 24 victories in 44 games, a respectable return that did not result in a title. Whether the franchise formally extends a new captaincy offer to him for IPL 2027 is yet to be verified, but Jaffer’s position is clear: Pant’s best chance of regaining notoriety is through continuous run-scoring, not wearing the captain’s armband.
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