Hold on tight, IPL fans! The Delhi Capitals have just dropped a bombshell, revealing their player retentions ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 season. And let me tell you, some big names are staying put! But who made the cut and who got the axe? Get ready for some serious debate.
New Delhi, November 15, 2025: The Delhi Capitals, proudly co-owned by JSW and GMR, have officially announced their list of retained and released players as they gear up for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction, slated for later this year. The franchise, representing the vibrant capital city, has decided to retain a total of 17 players, signaling their commitment to building a strong and competitive squad. This shows the team is focusing on long-term stability and consistency, a strategy that could pay dividends in the long run.
However, tough decisions had to be made. After thorough evaluations and strategic discussions, Delhi Capitals have decided to release several players, including Mohit Sharma, the dynamic Faf du Plessis, the promising Sediqullah Atal, the explosive Jake Fraser-McGurk, Manvanth Kumar, and Darshan Nalkande. These releases open up opportunities for the franchise to acquire fresh talent at the auction and potentially reshape their squad dynamics.
Now, for the names you've been waiting for! The core of the Delhi Capitals remains strong, with key players from last season's squad, which finished a respectable fifth, being retained. These include the ever-reliable Axar Patel (potentially the new Captain), the stylish KL Rahul, the spin wizard Kuldeep Yadav, the international superstar Mitchell Starc, and the explosive Tristan Stubbs. These players form the backbone of the team and are expected to play crucial roles in the upcoming season. And this is the part most people miss... retaining a core group provides team cohesion and allows for better strategic planning.
But here's where it gets controversial... Delhi Capitals have also made a strategic move in the trade market, acquiring Nitish Rana in exchange for Donovan Ferreira, who will now be heading to the Rajasthan Royals. This trade has sparked some debate among fans, with many questioning whether Rana is the right fit for the team. Is this a stroke of genius or a risky gamble? Only time will tell.
Mr. Kiran Kumar Grandhi, Chairman and Co-Owner of Delhi Capitals, expressed his thoughts on the team's preparations, saying, "We had a promising campaign last season, the team showed great quality and spirit, even though we narrowly missed out on the playoffs. The auction gives us an opportunity to strengthen the areas where we fell short and build a more balanced squad around the players we have retained. Our coaching team and scouting network have worked extensively to identify the right talent to add to the group. My best wishes to all the players as we gear up for an exciting auction.”
Mr. Parth Jindal, Co-owner of Delhi Capitals and Founder of JSW Sports, added, "We are pleased with the players we’ve retained – we saw how well they performed together, especially in the first half of last season. Our coaches and scouts have been working tirelessly to identify those players who can complement our core group. We’re looking forward to the auction and building a strong team for the season ahead.”
Hemang Badani, Head Coach of Delhi Capitals, shared his insights, stating, “Last season had its highs and lows, we played some really good cricket but fell just short of a playoff spot. We know the areas that need strengthening, and the auction will allow us to make those fine adjustments around the group we have retained. The goal is to build consistency and ensure we’re competing at our best throughout the season.”
Here’s the full list of retained players:
- Axar Patel
- KL Rahul
- Karun Nair
- Abishek Porel
- Tristan Stubbs
- Sameer Rizvi
- Ashutosh Sharma
- Vipraj Nigam
- Ajay Mandal
- Tripurana Vijay
- Madhav Tiwari
- Mitchell Starc
- T Natarajan
- Mukesh Kumar
- Dushmantha Chameera
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Nitish Rana (traded in)
And here are the released players:
- Mohit Sharma
- Faf du Plessis
- Sediqullah Atal
- Jake Fraser-McGurk
- Manvanth Kumar
- Darshan Nalkande
- Donovan Ferreira (traded out)
About DELHI CAPITALS:
The Delhi Capitals team is a prominent participant in both the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Women's Premier League (WPL). Co-owned by the esteemed GMR Group and the JSW Group, Delhi Capitals was established in 2008 as Delhi Daredevils before embracing a new identity in 2019. In 2020, the team achieved a significant milestone by reaching its first-ever final. Furthermore, in 2023, Delhi Capitals became one of the five founding teams to participate in the Women’s Premier League, showcasing their commitment to women's cricket. Impressively, the team has reached the final in all three editions of the tournament so far, although they have finished as runners-up each time. Can they finally clinch the title in the upcoming season?
What do you think about the Delhi Capitals' retentions and releases? Do you agree with their decisions? Who do you think they should target at the auction? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
