Delhi Capitals Make Bold Moves for IPL 2026
As the countdown to IPL 2026 begins, Delhi Capitals (DC) have strategically reshaped their roster. Ahead of the upcoming auction set for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, the franchise has released several key players, making headlines across the cricketing world.
Star Players Departed
Among those parting ways with DC is veteran opener Faf du Plessis, a marquee figure in IPL history and vice-captain last season. Faf captained the side during crucial moments when regular skipper Axar Patel was unavailable. His departure leaves a significant gap in the line-up.
Also released is Australia’s exciting talent, Jake Fraser-McGurk. He was acquired for a substantial ?9 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction but did not make the expected impact.
Full List of Released Players
In total, DC has released seven players, including:
- Faf du Plessis (released)
- Jake Fraser-McGurk (released)
- Donovan Ferreira (traded to Rajasthan Royals)
- Sediqullah Atal (released)
- Manvanth Kumar (released)
- Mohit Sharma (released)
- Darshan Nalkande (released)
New Additions to the Squad
In addition to the releases, DC has enhanced their roster by acquiring Nitish Rana from Rajasthan Royals for ?4.2 crore. This move is seen as a smart addition that could bolster their batting lineup.
Retention List for IPL 2026
Here’s a look at the players retained by Delhi Capitals for the upcoming season:
| Player | Role | Retention Price (INR) |
|---|
| Axar Patel (c) | All-rounder | ?16.50 crore |
| Tristan Stubbs | Batter | ?10 crore |
| Sameer Rizvi | Batter | ?95 lakh |
| Karun Nair | Batter | ?50 lakh |
| KL Rahul | Batter | ?14 crore |
| Abhishek Porel | Wicketkeeper | ?4 crore |
| Ashutosh Sharma | Bowler | ?3.8 crore |
| Vipraj Nigam | Bowler | ?50 lakh |
| Madhav Tiwari | Bowler | ?40 lakh |
| Ajay Mandal | Bowler | ?30 lakh |
| Tripurana Vijay | Batter | ?30 lakh |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Bowler | ?13.25 crore |
| Mitchell Starc | Bowler | ?11.75 crore |
| Mukesh Kumar | Bowler | ?8 crore |
| Dushmantha Chameera | Bowler | ?8 crore |
| T Natarajan | Bowler | ?8 crore |
| Nitish Rana | Batter | ?4.2 crore |
The total remaining purse stands at ?21.8 crore, an indication of DC's ambition to strengthen their side.
Looking Ahead
With these adjustments, Delhi Capitals are determined to bounce back after narrowly missing the playoff spot in IPL 2025, finishing fifth on the table. Fans eagerly anticipate the auction where big names could potentially join the squad, paving the way for a more successful IPL season.