Delhi Capitals (DC) Released and Retained Players List 2026

The Delhi Capitals were initially one of the favorite teams to qualify for the IPL 2025 playoffs. But, due to a mid-season dip in form, the Capitals eventually dropped to 5th place in the points. Now the focus shifts to IPL 2026 with the planning for Delhi Capitals (DC) Released and Retained Players List 2026 already begun.

The Delhi Capitals started the season strong with 5 wins in the first 6 matches. After that, they won only 2 games in their next 8 matches, which eventually meant that they finished in 5th place in the points table with 15 points, missing out on the playoffs by just 1 point.

Delhi Capitals (DC) Released and Retained Players List 2026

The Delhi Capitals is still searching for their maiden IPL title and now the wait has extended to IPL 2026 season. There will be a few changes to be made. So let’s look at Delhi Capitals (DC) Released and Retained Players List 2026.

DC Released Players List 2026

Faf du Plessis

Delhi Capitals brought in Faf du Plessis to improve their opening line-up. Although the South African batter scored 202 runs, he missed a few matches due to injury, and he will turn 41 soon. The Capitals might want to look at a younger profile of the opening batter to replace the veteran batter, a former RCB skipper.

Jake Fraser-McGurk

Delhi Capitals spent INR 9 Crore to rope in the services of Australian hard-hitting opening batter Jake Fraser-McGurk. After scoring 330 in 2024, it turned out to be a disastrous campaign. McGurk scored only 55 runs in 6 matches and was dropped from the playing XI eventually. He also didn’t come back for the 2nd half of the tournament. So expect him to be in DC released players list 2026.

Mitchell Starc

Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc was a big-money signing by the Delhi Capitals. The Capitals included the 2024 champion bowler for INR 11.75 Crore. He took 14 wickets in 10 innings, but he dropped off massively as 9 of the total wickets came in the first 3 matches itself. And just like Jake Fraser-McGurk, the Aussie pace bowler also didn’t join the Capitals camp for the 2nd half of the IPL 2025 season and is very much likely to be in DC released players list 2026.

Mohit Sharma

Another pace bowler who is unlikely to be part of the Capitals team is Mohit Sharma. The India international pacer was signed for INR 2.2 Crore after a splendid performance for Gujarat Titans previously. However, in the IPL 2025 season, he played 8 matches and took just 2 wickets.

Mustafizur Rahman

More changes are likely in the bowling department. Pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman is also set to included in DC released players list 2026. Mustafizur was signed as replace for Jake Fraser-McGurk for the 2nd half of IPL 2025 and as per the rules, the franchise cannot retain the Bangladeshi pacer. He took 4 wickets in 3 matches, including 3 wicket-haul vs Punjab Kings.

Dushmantha Chameera

Sri Lankan pacer Dushmantha Chameera is also set to be shown the exit doors. He mostly signed as a backup for Mitchell Starc but ended up playing 5 matches and took 4 wickets. He was very expensive, though, conceding over 11 economy rate.

ALSO READ: Gujarat Titans Retained and Released Players List for IPL 2026

DC Retained Players List 2026

KL Rahul had an excellent debut season for the Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2025 as he scored the most runs for the Capitals in the IPL 2025 season, 539 runs. Rahul will be definitely be involved in DC retained players list 2026.

Tristan Stubbs, the South African big-hitting batter and finisher, once again displayed why the franchise showed so much faith in him and splashed INR 10 Crore to retain him last year. The South African scored 300 runs in 13 innings while playing in the lower middle order. He is going to be a key player for the franchise once again in IPL 2026 season.

Abhishek Porel has been equally quite good. He played in 2 different positions in the IPL 2025 and excelled really well as the opening batter. The wicketkeeper batter scored 301 runs and will be included in DC retained players list 2026 for INR 4 Crore salary.

Captain Axar Patel didn’t have a great campaign with the ball. Patel took only 5 wickets in 11 matches, but he contributed significantly with the bat while batting at number 5. Axar scored 263 runs and will be one of the top retained players for the Capitals.

Spin bowler Kuldeep Yadav didn’t have the best of campaign. Yet, he took 15 wickets in 13 matches. While there are more expectations from him, the Capitals won’t take any risk releasing a high-value player.

There are rumors that Mukesh Kumar might be released after a not-so-impressive campaign. In 12 matches, the India international bowler took only 12 wickets and was mostly underperforming at the start of the season. However, Mukesh is also a high value player and finding a quality Indian pacer in the auction is why he might feature in DC retained players list 2026.

DC Full Retained Players List for IPL 2026