Delhi Capitals (DC) are reportedly set to make changes to their squad ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction, which is likely to take place in mid-December. The Delhi-based franchise is set to release overseas batsmen Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk after their disappointing performances.
BCCI has set November 15, 2025 as the cutoff for franchises to send their retention lists. Teams will not face any restrictions ahead of the mini-auction to be held in mid-December. The announcement has sparked a wave of discussion on social media, with fans fanning various unverified rumors about a potential player swap.
Delhi Capitals failed to qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2025
Delhi Capitals started the IPL 2025 season by winning their first four matches and look to seal a place in the playoffs. However, his performances declined dramatically in the latter stages, where he managed only three wins in his final ten matches.
The match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) which was canceled due to rain further hampered their progress, leaving DC falling just short of the qualification mark. After the 2025 mega auction, the franchise had a star-studded squad including KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc, T. Natarajan, Faf du Plessis and Axar Patel.
However, the team failed to maintain consistency when it mattered most. Delhi finished fifth with 15 points from 14 matches and missed the playoffs by a narrow margin. They need to fix key flaws before next year’s tournament.
Delhi Capitals preparing to release Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk after disappointing performance
The biggest blow for Delhi Capitals was their unstable opening combination. Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk have struggled to provide solid starts throughout the tournament, leaving the team without a reliable foundation at the top.
Fraser-McGurk could only score 55 runs in six innings at an average of 9.17. Du Plessis, who led the team in the last two matches in the absence of Axar Patel, failed to make an impact with the bat. He scored 202 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 123.92.
According to ESPN Cricinfo, Du Plessis and Fraser-McGurk are reportedly on the list of players to be released ahead of next season. The franchise is expected to reevaluate its opening pair after a disappointing year at the top of the order.
Delhi Capitals expected to take a decision on T. Natarajan’s future
It is expected that Delhi Capitals will take a decision on the future of T. Natarajan. If Natarajan and Harry Brook are released, along with Afghan batsman Sediqullah Atal, the franchise can collect around ₹17 crore in its purse.
Natarajan was bought for ₹10.75 crore during the mega auction. However, he played only one match in IPL 2025 due to a shoulder injury, which kept him out of most of the season. The team management opted to retain their existing bowling lineup, leaving him on the bench.
Given his recurring fitness problems and age, Delhi is reconsidering whether the investment is worthwhile. Releasing him may give them an opportunity to re-sign the left-arm fast bowler at a lower price in the next auction.
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