The Delhi Capitals (DC) will once more get a fresh start at the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament trying to get the title of the tournament for the first time. After the last season, where they ended in fifth place, the team would try to change their squad in some key places. However, it will not be easy for DC to get the players they want in the mini auction unless they have money to spare and thus, they will have to wait for the IPL 2026 retention deadline to pass first. So, let’s go through the four domestic players that might have their names in the DC Released Players 2026 List on November 15.
Delhi Capitals: Top Domestic Players Who Could Be Released
T. Natarajan
The management of the team had included the pacer of the former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), T. Natarajan, in the IPL 2025 mega auction for a whopping amount of INR 10.75 crore. Earlier, he had a fantastic season with the IPL 2024 runners-up, taking 19 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 9.05. But, the DC team hardly used his skills and he participated in two out of their 14 league-stage matches.
The only chance the bowler had to deliver in the whole IPL 2025 was against the Gujarat Titans (GT). He could not take any wickets in that match and gave away a lot of runs, 49 in just three over. While, later, talking about his limited chances, the DC coach Hemang Badani mentioned that Natarajan was still recovering from a prior injury, and thus, he wouldn’t be among the Delhi Capitals retained players 2026.
Mukesh Kumar
The franchise had also paid a whopping amount of INR 8 crore to acquire Mukesh Kumar back in their squad for the next season after a fantastic IPL 2024. He had previously taken 17 wickets in 10 matches, with an economy of 10.36.
The bowler experienced a below-average performance during IPL 2025. Mukesh collected just 12 wickets in 12 games with a stable economy rate of over 10. Based on the numbers and a hefty price tag, it is expected that the management will take him off from the DC retained players list.
Abhishek Porel
Abhishek Porel has been the source of 360 runs in 18 matches for DC in two seasons, since the IPL 2023. The franchise relied on the kid’s potential and brought him back in the squad for INR 4 crore. DC used him as an opener and in the No.3 position during the whole IPL 2025.
Nevertheless, he experienced a drop in both his batting average and strike rate in the following season. In 13 group-stage matches, he could only manage to score 301 runs with an average of a disappointing 25.08. These low returns also indicate that DC might want to have a look at the next domestic top-order batsman to be acquired in the IPL 2026 auction.
Mohit Sharma
The franchise acquired Mohit Sharma for INR 2.20 crore after he had an outstanding two-year period with GT. He had already taken 40 wickets in 26 matches for the Titans.
However, the 37-year-old could only take two wickets in his eight matches for the Delhi team when IPL 2025 started. The franchise is likely to include the veteran seamer in the DC released players 2026 list as they focus on building a strong and youthful core for the future.
