After the Rajasthan Royals (RR), the Delhi Capitals (DC) had the worst bowling strike rate (22.8) as a bowling unit in the entire IPL 2025. They formed up a really great squad but somehow failed to put all the pieces together and lost on a qualification spot even after winning five out of their first six games.
With the IPL 2026 retention deadline not even 24 hours away, DC need to think a bit more for their bowling. Thankfully, DC have a lot of players that they can cash in on. While the likes of Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam are obvious retention choices, below we look at five such bowlers that Delhi Capitals should release.
Bowlers that DC should release before IPL 2026
- Mitchell Starc: Perhaps the most surprising name for some but Delhi Capitals can release almost Rs 12 crore if they get rid of Mitchell Starc. He may be one of the most threatening left-arm pacers of his generation but the Aussie, in T20s, isn’t as potent. KKR released him after one season, and he proved to be expensive for DC too. In the last two IPL seasons, Starc has taken 31 wickets but has leaked at an alarming economy of almost 10.50. That is just too expensive. After a tedious Ashes, the 35-year-old wouldn’t be in his prime form either.
- T Natarajan: Another player on a high price is T Natarajan, who is earning Rs 10.75 crore. Injuries plagued IPL 2025 for him but even Nattu is 34 years old. Releasing him and Starc would straightaway mean Rs 22.5 crore for DC, who can eye younger Indian pacers. Even reports circled around DC’s potential release of Natarajan
- Mukesh Kumar: Similar to Natarajan, Delhi Capitals can also pocket a great amount of sum by releasing Mukesh Kumar. The Indian international was great last year but since he has been plagued by injuries, things have gone south for Mukesh. The 32-year-old was signed for Rs 8 crore via RTM by DC. The move didn’t pay dividends as he leaked runs at more than 10 runs an over, and took 12 wickets in as many games.
- Dushmantha Chameera: A squad player, Dushmantha Chameera offers speed but there are muliple overseas options available that can DC sign. Chameera is good but not fantastic. Someone like Jacob Duffy, who was the ICC ranked No. 1 bowler not long ago, could fit at Delhi.
- Mustafizur Rahman: It was curious how DC paid Rs 6 crore to Mustafizur Rahman, who was signed as a replacement to Jake Fraser-McGurk. Yes, he has vastly improved his game in recent times but Delhi can use those Rs 6 crore elsewhere. Releasing him, Starc, Mukesh and Natarajan would mean that Delhi would need to revamp their bowling but with more than Rs 40 crore purse, it shouldn’t be a major issue.
Bowlers in Delhi Capitals (DC) IPL 2025 squad
Kuldeep Yadav (Rs 13.25 crore), Mitchell Starc (Rs 11.75 crore), T. Natarajan (Rs 10.75 crore), Mukesh Kumar (Rs 8 crore), Darshan Nalkande (Rs 30 lakh), Vipraj Nigam (Rs 50 lakh), Dushmantha Chameera (Rs 75 lakh), Mohit Sharma (Rs 2.20 crore), Tripurana Vijay (Rs 30 lakh), Mustafizur Rahman (Rs 6 crore)
DC Squad IPL 202025
Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, Mitchell Starc (Rs. 11.75 crore), KL Rahul (Rs. 14 crore), Harry Brook (Rs. 6.25 crore), Jake Fraser-McGurk (Rs. 9 crore), T. Natarajan (Rs. 10.75 crore), Karun Nair (Rs. 50 lakh), Sameer Rizvi (Rs. 95 lakh), Ashutosh Sharma (Rs. 3.80 crore), Mohit Sharma (Rs. 2.20 crore), Faf du Plessis (Rs. 2 crore), Mukesh Kumar (Rs. 8 crore), Darshan Nalkande (Rs. 30 lakh), Vipraj Nigam (Rs. 50 lakh), Dushmantha Chameera (Rs. 75 lakh), Donovan Ferreira (Rs. 75 lakh), Ajay Mandal (Rs. 30 lakh), Manvanth Kumar (Rs. 30 lakh), Tripurana Vijay (Rs. 30 lakh), Madhav Tiwari (Rs. 40 lakh), Sediqullah Atal (Rs 1.25 crore), Mustafizur Rahman (Rs 6 crore)
