The rest of the squad has been released, including last season's captain, Sam Curran. The only two retained players are- Shashank Singh (Rs. 5.5 crore) and Prabhsimran Singh (Rs. 4 crore). A similar approach has also been taken by Delhi Capitals, and they also released their long-time captain Rishabh Pant. There is speculation that Rishabh Pant can cause a bidding war among some of the franchises in the IPL 2025 mega auction. Along with his wicketkeeping and batting ability, Pant has experience leading a team in the IPL. Given these skills and player profile, Pant will likely attract very high bids from multiple franchises in need of a top-order batter, wicketkeeper, or leader. He has a strike rate of 148.93 in IPL, and in 111 IPL matches, the left-handed batter has hit 154 sixes. IPL 2025: Four Reasons Why Rishabh Pant Would Join PBKS? Largest Auction Purse: By retaining only two players, PBKS has a substantial purse of Rs. 110.5 crore for the auction, putting them in a strong position to secure Pant. If his bid climbs high, PBKS may outbid other franchises who are looking for a player of a similar profile, lacking the funds to compete for this Indian wicketkeeper-batter. Captaincy Opportunity: With almost an entirely fresh squad, PBKS is likely seeking a new captain. Pant, one of the few experienced leaders in the auction, could be a top candidate to fill this role for the franchise. The Indian southpaw has led Delhi Capitals for some years now, and will be cherishing an opportunity to lead PBKS to a playoff next season. Ricky Ponting Factor: The legendary Australian batter Ricky Ponting has been mentoring the Delhi Capitals from 2018 till the last IPL. In his whole IPL career, Pant has been coached by the Australian legend. If Pant goes to PBKS, this coach-captain duo will add an extra factor for the franchise. Also the Australian admires Pant massively, which can galvanize the player and Punjab Kings as a whole if the duo get to work together again. Regional Sentiment: Rishabh Pant was born in Uttarakhand, but his domestic cricket career started in Delhi. To date, he plays for Delhi, which has a geographical proximity and huge cultural similarity with Punjab. Other than that, Pant also has a local fanbase of his own in this region. It may be considered better to choose PBKS over other options. However, once Pant had expressed his wish to play for CSK, alongside Mahendra Singh Dhoni. But in CSK, the captaincy role may not be available immediately as the franchise chose Ruturaj Gaikwad as their captain just in the last IPL. RCB also has the chance to all-out for the Indian wicketkeeper as they are looking for a captain for the long term in the future. But, ultimately the large purse balance of PBKS will give them the upper hand to sign Pant for IPL 2025.