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IPL 2026 Auction Delhi Capitals: Retained & Released List — Squad & Auction Plan
Updated - 22-NOV-2025 6:48 IST
The Delhi Capitals (DC) have a clear vision and newfound desire going into the IPL 2026 Auction. The team is determined to rebuild wisely before a messy 2025 season that saw signs of brilliance but frequent middle-order errors. DC's strategy for the 2026 big auction will be crucial in determining its goals for a comeback, given its youthful core, seasoned Indian players, and revived support personnel.
The official retained & released list, possible auction targets, DC's 2025 performance, and the franchise's auction strategy are all covered in this thorough analysis.
IPL 2025 Delhi Capitals Summary
- Captain: Rishabh Pant
- IPL 2025 Points Table: 05 (7 won, 6 Loss)
- Key Concerns: Top-order instability, Death bowling issues, Lack of a reliable middle-order finisher
Delhi Capitals - Full Retained Players List
|
Player Name |
Role |
Status |
|
Axar Patel |
(Captain & All-Rounder) |
DC's most reliable all-around player and leader. |
|
KL Rahul |
Batter |
kept on as a senior top-order anchor. |
|
Tristan Stubbs |
WK-Batter |
finisher and middle-order powerhouse. |
|
Abishek Porel |
WK-Batter |
Big-hitting wicketkeeper in the making. |
|
Kuldeep Yadav |
Spinner |
The best wrist-spinner in India. |
|
Mitchell Starc |
Bowler |
significant retention in international fast bowling. |
|
Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Madhav Tiwari |
DC's strong domestic batting core. | |
|
Ajay Mandal & Tripurana Vijay |
reliable domestic all-around choices. | |
|
Mukesh Kumar |
Bowler |
kept for support during death overs and new balls. |
|
Dushmantha Chameera |
The overseas pace option is still available. | |
|
T Natarajan |
kept on as a specialist in left-arm death. | |
|
Nitish Rana (Traded-In) |
With experience, the second order is strengthened. |
Delhi Capitals - Full Released Players List
|
Player Name |
Role |
Reason for Release |
|
Faf du Plessis |
Batter |
Ageing profile; heavy purse value |
|
Jake Fraser-McGurk |
Overseas Batter |
Inconsistent IPL 2025 |
|
Sediqullah Atal |
All-Rounder |
No opportunities in 2025 |
|
Mohit Sharma |
Pacer |
End of role; age factor |
|
Manvanth Kumar |
All-Rounder |
Squad restructuring |
|
Darshan Nalkande |
Pace All-Rounder |
Team balance change |
|
Donovan Ferreira |
WK-Batter |
Traded out in RR; DC reshaping overseas group |
Delhi Capitals - Retention & Auction Plan
- Strengthening the Domestic Core: Young Indian players like Rizvi, Nigam, Porel, and Tiwari have strong support.
- Pace Unit Boost: DC will search for one more death-over expert after keeping Starc, Chameera, Natarajan, and Mukesh.
- The departure of Ferreira and Fraser-McGurk creates a need for an overseas finisher.
- KL. Rahul Retained: DC has retained Rahul as a senior figure in spite of offers.
- Rana Nitish Inclusion: Provides support for the leadership and fortifies the middle order.
Delhi Capitals - Squad IPL 2026
|
Category |
Players |
|
Batters & WKs |
KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Nitish Rana |
|
All-Rounders |
Axar Patel (C), Ajay Mandal, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari |
|
Bowlers |
Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmantha Chameera, T Natarajan |
Purse Freed Up After Releases & Trade
|
No. of Players |
Available Slot |
Oversees Slots |
Purse Left(INR) |
|
17 |
8 |
5 |
21.8 CR |
Rebuilding their top order, fixing death bowling concerns, and acquiring finishers who can withstand pressure are the key elements of the Delhi Capitals' IPL 2026 Auction strategy. With Pant, Axar, Kuldeep, and Fraser-McGurk as their primary players, DC is in a strong position to create an aggressive and well-rounded team.
In the 2026 season, the Capitals may finally be able to go after the elusive IPL championship with wise spending and calculated selections.