DC Retention List IPL 2026: Delhi Capitals Part Ways With Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk

Delhi Capitals have finalized their retention list for the IPL 2026 season, making bold decisions by releasing their overseas opening pair of Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk while retaining 16 players from their IPL 2025 campaign. The franchise, which finished fifth last season with seven wins and six losses, has opted for strategic squad restructuring ahead of the December 16 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi. With captain Axar Patel leading the retained core and INR 21.80 crore available in their auction purse, DC enters the mini-auction with clear objectives to strengthen specific positions that prevented them from reaching the playoffs.

DC’s Strategic Retention Philosophy

After a promising start to IPL 2025 that saw Delhi Capitals establish themselves as playoff contenders, the team lost momentum in the second half of the tournament, ultimately missing out on the top four by a narrow margin. The retention strategy reflects lessons learned from that campaign, prioritizing young Indian talent, proven match-winners, and squad balance over expensive overseas players who underperformed.

DC’s Complete Retained Players List for IPL 2026

The retention of 16 players plus the strategic acquisition of Nitish Rana through a trade with Rajasthan Royals demonstrates DC’s commitment to building around a strong Indian core while maintaining flexibility for targeted overseas additions at the auction.

The Faf du Plessis Release: End of a Disappointing Stint

Perhaps the most significant decision in DC’s retention list is the release of former South African captain Faf du Plessis, whose underwhelming IPL 2025 campaign failed to justify his INR 2 crore salary. At 41 years old, du Plessis struggled to replicate the explosive form that made him such a valuable asset for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in previous seasons.

Du Plessis managed just 202 runs in nine matches for DC during IPL 2025, with a strike rate of 123.92—numbers that pale in comparison to his RCB performance the previous year when he smashed 438 runs in 15 innings at a blistering strike rate of 161.62. The stark decline in productivity made his release an easy decision for the franchise management.

Faf du Plessis: IPL 2024 vs IPL 2025 Comparison

The statistics reveal a dramatic fall in effectiveness, with du Plessis losing nearly 40 strike rate points and failing to provide the aggressive starts that DC desperately needed at the top of the order. His inability to adapt to Delhi’s batting requirements, combined with age-related decline, made his release inevitable despite his championship pedigree and wealth of T20 experience.

Jake Fraser-McGurk: From Future Star to Auction Pool

The release of Jake Fraser-McGurk represents an even more dramatic turn of events, considering Delhi Capitals had labeled him “a player for the future” when they signed him in 2024. The Australian explosive batsman burst onto the IPL scene with intent-laden batting that yielded 222 runs off just 81 deliveries during the final stages of the IPL 2024 season, generating enormous excitement about his potential.

DC’s faith in Fraser-McGurk was evident when they used their Right-to-Match card to buy him back at the IPL 2025 mega auction. However, the investment backfired spectacularly as the 22-year-old managed just 55 runs in six matches, including five single-digit scores. His best score of 38 was the lone bright spot in an otherwise disastrous campaign that saw him benched before eventually being sent home.

The Mid-Season Departure and Form Crisis

Fraser-McGurk’s IPL 2025 struggles extended beyond mere statistics. When the tournament was paused due to cross-border tensions with Pakistan, the Australian opted to return home. When the IPL resumed, Fraser-McGurk chose to stay in Australia, forcing DC to sign Bangladesh left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman as a temporary replacement.

The decision not to return signaled a breakdown in the player-franchise relationship and raised questions about his commitment level. Post-IPL, Fraser-McGurk’s form crisis deepened across all formats:

• India A series: Highest score of 36 in three List A games
• South Australia matches: Scores of 34, 27, and 4 in three List A games
• Major League Cricket: Lukewarm stint with San Francisco Unicorns

The continued poor form across multiple competitions validated DC’s decision to cut ties with a player who had shown immense promise but couldn’t deliver consistency when it mattered most.

DC’s Head Coach Explains Fraser-McGurk Release

Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani provided insight into the difficult decision to release Fraser-McGurk, revealing the financial considerations behind the move.

“At 9 crores, what we got from him was not enough, so we decided to let him go,” Badani stated candidly, referring to the value proposition that Fraser-McGurk failed to deliver relative to his cost.

The statement underscores the harsh reality of IPL economics—even highly talented players face release if they can’t justify their price tags through consistent performances. Fraser-McGurk’s failure to establish himself despite being handed opportunities made him an expensive luxury that DC couldn’t afford while trying to build a balanced squad within salary cap constraints.

Other Strategic Releases

Beyond the headline departures of du Plessis and Fraser-McGurk, DC released six additional players to optimize squad composition and free up auction resources.

DC’s Complete Released Players List

Mohit Sharma, the former Indian international pacer, was released after a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign that saw him claim just two wickets in eight matches while conceding runs at an economy rate of 10.28. The veteran’s subpar performance coupled with his significant salary made him an obvious candidate for release.

The Nitish Rana Trade: Strategic Middle-Order Addition

While releasing key players, DC executed a crucial trade by acquiring Nitish Rana from Rajasthan Royals for INR 4.2 crore, sending all-rounder Donovan Ferreira in the opposite direction. The move addresses DC’s need for a left-handed middle-order batsman with leadership experience.

Rana brings 118 IPL matches worth of experience, having scored 2,853 runs at a strike rate of 136.76. His track record includes two IPL championship victories—with Mumbai Indians in 2017 and Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024—providing invaluable winning mentality to Delhi’s dressing room.

The Delhi-born cricketer’s familiarity with home conditions at Arun Jaitley Stadium gives DC an additional advantage. Rana is expected to slot into the number four or five position, strengthening the middle order alongside Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, and Abishek Porel.

The Controversial T Natarajan Retention

One of the more surprising decisions in DC’s retention list is keeping T Natarajan despite his significant INR 10.75 crore price tag and limited contribution in IPL 2025. The left-arm yorker specialist played just two matches last season due to persistent injury problems, raising questions about the wisdom of retaining such an expensive player with questionable availability.

However, DC’s management believes Natarajan’s death-overs expertise and ability to bowl pinpoint yorkers under pressure make him worth the investment when fully fit. The franchise is betting that a healthy Natarajan can provide the kind of finishing bowling that proved elusive during crucial matches in IPL 2025.

Auction Strategy: Targeting Specific Positions

With INR 21.80 crore remaining and eight roster slots available (including five overseas positions), DC enters the December 16 mini-auction with clear priorities:

Primary Auction Targets:

1. Explosive Opening Partner for KL Rahul: With both du Plessis and Fraser-McGurk gone, DC desperately needs an aggressive opener to complement Rahul’s anchor role
2. Overseas Power-Hitting Finisher: To provide late-innings acceleration and strengthen the middle-order finishing department
3. Death-Overs Pace Specialist: A reliable Indian or overseas fast bowler who can support Starc and Natarajan in high-pressure situations
4. Spin Bowling Backup: A quality spinner to complement Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel
5. Young Domestic Talent: Emerging Indian players to add depth across batting and bowling departments

DC’s approach suggests targeted acquisitions focused on filling specific gaps rather than chasing marquee names. The franchise has learned from past mistakes where expensive overseas signings failed to deliver, opting instead for value-driven bidding that prioritizes role clarity and squad balance.

Building Around Axar Patel’s Captaincy

The retention of Axar Patel as captain signals DC’s long-term leadership vision. The all-rounder demonstrated tactical acumen during IPL 2025, though inconsistent team performances prevented playoff qualification. With a more balanced squad and clearer role definitions, Axar will have better resources to execute his strategic plans in IPL 2026.

The combination of Axar’s leadership, Mitchell Starc’s pace bowling firepower, Kuldeep Yadav’s wicket-taking ability, and KL Rahul’s batting experience creates a strong leadership group capable of guiding younger players through pressure situations.

Read More: Mumbai Indians Retain Core Stars: MI Lock 20 Players Ahead of IPL 2026 Mini-Auction

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