Delhi Capitals are all set to take some tough calls ahead of the retention deadline before IPL 2026 mini-auction. Axar Patel and co. finished 6th on the points table in 2025, having won seven matches and lost six. While DC’s batting line-up is the least of the worry for the team, it has come to light that the team intends to release at least four players, including vice-captain Faf du Plessis.
DC to release 4 players, retain Natarajan
As per Times of India, DC sources have confirmed that the releases will include du Plessis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mohit Sharma and Harry Brook. The former South African captain, who made his move from RCB to DC at the mega auction in 2025, managed to amass 202 runs from 9 matches. Meanwhile, the explosive Australian opener had a rather poor season in IPL 2025 as he managed to score just 55 runs in 6 matches, proving to be more of a liability than an asset for DC.
Brook, who skipped IPL 2025 after being fetched by DC in the auction, has been banned for two years and will certainly be released. Sharma, who is 38-years-old at present, did not have the best of the seasons either, managing to take just 2 wickets in 8 games.
However, contrary to earlier reports, DC is set to retain T Natarajan despite underutilizing him in IPL 2025. DC shelled out a whooping Rs 10.75 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction to bag the Tamil Nadu pacer. However, possibly due to injury concerns, he was used only in 2 matches where he bowled a combined 3 overs only. The report claims that SRH would have been interested to acquire the services of the pacer had he been released but DC want to persist with the bowler.
