NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant’s return to Delhi Capitals has been one of the biggest moves ahead of the new IPL 2027 season, and DC captain Axar Patel has already made it clear that the wicketkeeper-batter will have complete freedom when he rejoins the franchise.Pant returned to Delhi Capitals in a high-profile trade completed on Tuesday. The move saw Pant head back to his former franchise for Rs 15 crore, while spinner Kuldeep Yadav moved to Lucknow Super Giants. Pant had joined LSG for a record Rs 27 crore before IPL 2025 but endured two disappointing seasons with the franchise.In a video shared by Delhi Capitals, Axar spoke about his relationship with Pant and stressed that there would be no extra pressure on the former DC captain.“All I know is that he got full freedom as a captain from my side. Our relationship has never been like that of a captain and a player. When he was there, he was my captain and at that time he was leading me. There was never a feeling between us that I am the main captain and whatever I say has to be done. We have always worked with mutual understanding (All I know is that he will have complete freedom from my side) As captain. When he was here, he was leading me at that time. We have always worked with mutual understanding.Axar said both players understand each other’s roles and responsibilities, having spent several years together at the franchise.“He also knew that he is a senior player. I also knew that I was a senior player too. We have always had a mutual understanding about what he can do and what he cannot do in a particular situation,” he said.Pant is returning to a team where he played 111 matches between 2016 and 2024. He also captained Delhi Capitals from 2021 to 2024 and remains one of the franchise’s most popular players.Axar believes Delhi remains Pant’s home and said neither he nor the franchise expects anything extra from the star batter.“And as a friend and captain, I just want to say that there is no extra pressure on him. Not from my side and not from the franchise’s side. This is his home. He has played here before and has played for many years. Delhi uska home hai (And as a friend and captain, I would just like to tell him that there is no extra pressure on him. Not from my side and not from the franchise either. This is his home. He has played here before and has spent many years with this team. Delhi is his home,” he said.Pant’s time with Lucknow Super Giants was a difficult one. LSG finished seventh in IPL 2025 before ending at the bottom of the table in IPL 2026 under his captaincy. With the bat, Pant scored 269 runs in 2025 and followed it up with 312 runs and one half-century in 2026.Despite that, Axar backed Pant’s quality and reminded him that class never disappears.“I don’t need to tell you much. All I know is that you will get complete freedom as a captain from my side. Just enjoy yourself. It is your natural character and style, enjoy it. Form and other things are temporary, but class is permanent. And you are a player of our category. You have complete freedom from our side. Just play your game and enjoy. Here will be my message for him (So I don’t really need to tell him much. All I know is that he will have complete freedom from my side as captain. Just enjoy yourself. Enjoy playing the way that comes naturally to you. Form and everything else are temporary, but class is permanent. And you are that kind of player. From our side, you have complete freedom. Just play your game and enjoy yourself. That would be my message to him,” Axar said.