Delhi Capitals Latest Recruitment Nitish Rana A brief conversation with Rishabh Pant He was instrumental in the decision to return to his home franchise ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season.The veteran left-handed batsman will represent Delhi Capitals for the first time in his IPL career Rajasthan Royals for INR 4.20 crore before the auction. The move marks a long-awaited homecoming for the 32-year-old, who grew up in Delhi and is now getting a chance to play for his home team in the 19th edition of the league starting on March 28.
Rana enters the season after an impressive run in the Delhi Premier League last year, where he scored heavily and emerged as one of the standout batsmen in the competition. With confidence in their side, they will now look to repeat that form in the IPL.Speaking in a video shared by Delhi Capitals, Rana revealed that Pant was the only person he consulted before deciding to join the franchise.“There was only one person I asked if I should join Delhi Capitals or not, and that was Rishabh. He has played a lot for this franchise and captained the team. He knows all the inside details about the setup. At that time, I felt he was the right person to ask if I was making the right decision in my life, because he understands me so well.”Pant’s response came almost immediately and left no doubt about the move, Rana added.“He gave his answer in three seconds, he told me that nothing could be better for you, just say yes quietly, I still remember his words perfectly, it only took three seconds. After that I never discussed the matter again. What he said was enough and after that I signed with Delhi Capitals.Rana has enjoyed a long journey in the IPL, having previously represented Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals. His most notable stint came with Kolkata Knight Riders between 2018 and 2024, where he became a key member of the team. He even captained the team in absence in 2023. Shreyas Iyer and later played a role in their title-winning campaign in 2024.
