On Tuesday, December 9, the IPL released a final list of players set to go under the hammer during the mini-auction on December 16 in the UAE. The governing body revealed that 350 players have been finalised for the marquee events, comprising 16 capped Indians, 96 capped overseas players, 224 uncapped Indians, and 14 uncapped overseas players.
This article will shed light on the Delhi Capitals, they have a purse value of 21.8 crores and need to bring in a maximum of 8 players during the auction. They have a lot of work to do during the auction as the Capitals finished fifth last season and are still looking at ways to end their trophy curse.
This article will examine the Delhi Capitals' auction strategy ahead of IPL 2026.
Delhi Capitals retention list for 2026
Player
Role
Retention Price
Axar Patel
All-rounder
16.25 crores
KL Rahul
Keeper-Batter
14 crores
Kuldeep Yadav
Bowler
13.25 crores
Mitchell Starc
Bowler
11.75 crores
T. Natarajan
Bowler
10.75 crores
Tristan Stubbs
Batter
10 crores
Mukesh Kumar
Bowler
8 crores
Abhishek Porel
Batter
4 crores
Ashutosh Sharma
Batter
3.80 crores
Sameer Rizvi
Batter
95 lakhs
Dushmantha Chameera
Bowler
75 lakhs
Vipraj Nigam
All-rounder
50 Lakhs
Karun Nair
Batter
50 Lakhs
Madhav Tiwari
All-rounder
40 Lakhs
Tripurana Vijay
All-rounder
30 Lakhs
Ajay Mandal
All-rounder
30 Lakhs
Nitish Rana (Traded)
Batter
4.2 crores
Role Distribution for Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2026
Pacers: Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmantha Chameera
Spinner: Kuldeep Yadav
Delhi Capitals IPL 2026 auction budget and overseas slots
For IPL 2026, Delhi Capitals have a purse value of 21.8 crores and have five more overseas slots to fill during the auction as they currently have a squad strength of just 17 players.
Delhi Capitals IPL 2026 squad: What are the gaps to fill?
Delhi Capitals, interestingly released their openers during the retention deadline day. (Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk). However, one of the massive possibility ahead of the upcoming season is that KL Rahul starts to open alongside Abishek Porel.
Further, Nitish Rana is likely to take the No.3 spot with Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma and Axar Patel making a solid middle-order. However, Delhi Capitals lack genuine power-hitters, which they need to address during the auction.
Also, Delhi Capitals are expected to sign a solid seam option as they lack a genuine wicket-taking option besides Mitchell Starc, given T Natarajan's fitness issues.
Areas to address for Delhi Capitals during Auction
Poor opening options
It is only speculations that KL Rahul and Porel might open the innings, but other than that, Delhi have real issues up at the top. During 2025, Faf and JFM opened the innings but couldn't provide the start that the team required.
Notably, Delhi Capitals had eight opening pairs for IPL 2025, the most by any team during that season.
A power-hitter to provide the finishing touch
Delhi Capitals have good Indian core, but they lack a genuine power-hitter to provide the finishing touch. Similar to how RCB have Tim David, KKR have Rovman Powell, the Capitals too need a player to do that job for them during IPL 2026.
Quality overseas batter
As mentioned above, Delhi Capitals have a good Indian core, but they need one or two solid overseas batting option to add the depth in their batting order. They lack an experienced star whom they can bank on at the top and not all the responsibility can be left on KL Rahul's shoulders to look after the batting unit.
A genuine wicket-taking option
Delhi Capitals have Mitchell Starc who did well for them during IPL 2025, but other than him rest of the bowlers failed to leave a mark. Mukesh Kumar was among the wickets but failed when it mattered the most.
Thus, the Capitals need to bring in a genuine wicket-taker to address their seam bowling woes.
DC IPL 2026 auction prime targets: Whom the Capitals are likely to go after?
1. Auqib Nabi
As mentioned, Delhi Capitals need a wicket-taking bowler and Auqib Nabi should be on top of their list. The right-arm seamer is making noise in domestic circuit and interestingly, he has already given his trials with the Capitals.
The Jammu and Kashmir-based cricketer has performed across formats and the 29-year-old has 15 wickets in seven innings in SMAT 2025-26. Further, the right-arm seamer also has 29 wickets in nine innings in Ranji Trophy 2025-26.
2. Ben Duckett
Delhi Capitals lack batters who can set the platform at the top. KL Rahul and Abishek Porel love to bat at their own pace. However, they should target Duckett as the southpaw can set the pace and take game away from the opponents within the powerplay.
Duckett utilises the powerplay very well. If we look at Duckett's last T20I series with England, he scored 115 runs in three matches against West Indies, which featured two thirty-plus scores. Duckett averaged 38.33 and had a whopping strike-rate of 169.12.
3. Prithvi Shaw
Prithvi Shaw, who went unsold during IPL 2025, is back among runs and is a hot prospect entering the auction. Several teams will be interested in the right-handed batter and the Capitals too should go after the 26-year-old.
Looking at Shaw's recent performance, then the Maharashtra star has scored 183 runs in seven innings, averaging 26.14 and a whopping strike-rate of 160.53. His portfolio also includes two fifty-plus scores.
4. Kartik Sharma
Among the uncapped category, Kartik Sharma is the one making most of the noise. The 20-year-old cricketers, who hails from Rajasthan, hogged the internet after he slammed 445 runs in eight innings during Vijay Hazare Trophy last season.
Further, Sharma has played 11 T20s for Rajasthan, amassing 316 runs, which includes two half-centuries. His strike rate of 164.58 is something that will interest Delhi Capitals.
5. Liam Livingstone
Delhi Capitals are hunting for a top-notch finisher and Liam Livingstone is available in the market. Not many franchises are looking for Livingstone as an option because of his underwhelming performance with RCB in IPL 2025.
However, the right-arm seamer has picked up the pace again with the bat and recently amassed 102 runs in three games in ILT20, which includes a fifty-plus score.
Other potential targets for Delhi Capitals
Matheesha Pathirana, David Miller, Jamie Smith, Jacob Duffy, Eathan Bosch, Daryl Mitchell, Tim Seifert
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Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025 - (Source: AFP)
