The IPL has witnessed one of the biggest trades in its history ahead of the 2027 season. In a blockbuster move, Rishabh Pant has returned to Delhi Capitals (DC), while star spinner Kuldeep Yadav has moved to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
After spending two seasons with Lucknow Super Giants, the wicketkeeper-batter is back with the team where he started his career. However, his return has also sparked an important question: Who should captain Delhi Capitals in IPL 2027?
The question has become even more interesting because KL Rahul is already part of the Delhi Capitals setup and has emerged as a strong leadership candidate.
Delhi Capitals had a difficult IPL 2026 campaign under Axar Patel's captaincy. The team finished sixth on the points table with seven wins and seven defeats from 14 matches.
Now, with Pant back in the squad and Rahul already part of the franchise, the management faces a crucial decision regarding the captaincy.
Rishabh Pant vs KL Rahul Captaincy Stats Comparison
Rishabh Pant has captained in 71 IPL matches between 2021 and 2026 for DC and LSG. Out of these, his captaincy record is 33 wins, 36 defeats, and 2. His win percentage stands at 46.47%, with an overall success rate of 47.88%.
Statistic
Value
Player
Rishabh Pant
Span
2021–2026
Matches
71
Won
33
Lost
36
Tied
2
Draw
0
No Result (NR)
0
Win %
46.47
(Rishabh Pant's IPL captaincy stats)
KL Rahul, meanwhile, has led teams in 64 IPL matches between 2020 and 2024. He has won 31 matches and lost 31, with two ties. His win percentage of 48.43% is slightly better than Pant's, while his overall success rate stands at 50%.
Statistic
Value
Player
KL Rahul
Span
2020–2024
Matches
64
Won
31
Lost
31
Tied
2
Draw
0
No Result (NR)
0
Win %
48.43
(KL Rahul's IPL captaincy stats)
KL Rahul vs Rishabh Pant: Who Should DC Appoint As Captain For IPL 2027?
Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant's journey over the last two years has been challenging, both as a player and as a captain. After becoming the most expensive player in IPL history when LSG bought him for ₹27 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction, expectations were extremely high.
However, things did not go according to plan. Under Pant's leadership, Lucknow finished seventh in IPL 2025 and then slipped to the bottom of the table in IPL 2026. Following the disappointing season, Pant stepped down as captain to focus more on his batting.
His individual performance also showed the struggles, as he scored 312 runs in 14 matches at an average of 28.36 and a strike rate of 138.05.
For now, it is important for Pant to focus on regaining his best batting form and rebuilding his confidence without the added pressure of leading the side.
KL Rahul
On the other hand, Rahul enjoyed an impressive IPL 2026 season with the bat. He scored 593 runs in 14 matches at an average of 45.61 and a strike rate of 174.41. Rahul has also spent two years with the Delhi Capitals setup, allowing him to build strong relationships with players, coaches and management.
It is important to note that KL Rahul also has captaincy experience, having led KXIP, LSG, and PBKS.
Conclusion
Looking at current form, captaincy numbers and familiarity with the franchise setup, KL Rahul appears to be the stronger candidate to lead Delhi Capitals in IPL 2027.
KL Rahul vs Rishabh Pant (Source: AFP)
