With a midnight tweet, a plethora of IPL 2025 rumours, and a reshuffling of not only the coaching staff but also at the ownership level, tranquillity has not been an option for Delhi Capitals (DC) fans in recent times. It is needless to say alongside the likes of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the Punjab Kings, the Delhi-based team has been the most inconsistent in IPL history. And desperate times call for desperate measures, with the franchise bringing in new faces in the support staff. However, both Hemang Badani and Venugopal Rao will have a tough task on their hands ahead of the IPL 2025 retention deadline, i.e., October 31.
This franchise is known for mixing it up every two to three years. Their best period, however, came when ex-head coach Ricky Ponting decided to build a formidable Indian core, that involved some huge household names. DC still have some great T20 names but alas, they have to release a few come the retention jumbo. Below are the retention combinations that, we feel, DC probably would keep on October 31, the IPL 2025 retention deadline date.
DC retention list for IPL 2025
Retention No. 1 (Rs 18 crore) – Rishabh Pant
Retention No. 2 (Rs 14 crore) – Axar Patel
Retention No. 3 (Rs 11 crore) – Kuldeep Yadav
Retention No. 4 (Rs 4 crore) (uncapped) – Rasikh Salam Dar
Retention No. 5 (Rs 4 crore) (uncapped) – Abhishek Porel
Retention No. 6 (RTM) – Tristan Stubbs, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Harry Brook
Purse spent on retentions: Rs 51 crore
Purse left (assuming the minimum amount is spent) – Rs 69 crore
GT Retentions: Rishabh Pant, yes or no?
It was something out of the ordinary when Rishabh Pant successfully completed his comeback, playing his first competitive match after almost one and a half years. Delhi Capitals massively struggled in his absence (9th in IPL 2023) and Pant’s return boosted a certain amount of confidence within the side. Although they again failed to qualify for the playoffs, Pant gained a lot of love from his teammates and fans alike.
However, the biggest IPL 2025 rumour mill has been dishing out his name time and again. He was once considered a viable option for CSK and his recent midnight tweet, left everyone perplexed (even DC’s management). Pant took to his social media and asked his fans if he entered the IPL auction, how much money would he be ‘sold’ for. Leave aside all this gossip, it should be a no-brainer for DC to retain Pant as their first pick. The minimum amount for the first retention is Rs 18 crore and even if Pant asks for a few more, the franchise should give him the due. After all, he is their biggest face and attraction!
DC Retentions: Axar at Rs 14cr, Kuldeep to get massive hike
Ever since Delhi Capitals bought Axar Patel for just Rs 5 crore in 2019, he has been gold dust for them. In need of a wicket? Bring Axar. A collapse has occurred? Bat Axar. Need a 4-ball cameo? Axar is still there. He has been DC’s crisis man for so long and now his due has come to get retained as the second-choice pick at Rs 14 crore. Axar is amongst the top-ten highest run-getters and top-three highest wicket-takers for DC.
Wrapping another Indian superstar, Kuldeep Yadav is almost certain to get a huge pay hike. Can you really believe the fact that Kuldeep Yadav’s contract is worth just Rs 2 crore at the franchise! Well, someone like Kumar Kushagra, who made just 3 runs last season, earned a whopping Rs 7.20 crore alone. Regardless, with the new retention slabs, Kuldeep is likely to get retained as the third pick at Rs 11 crore, a 550% rise for India’s most premier spinner in the format.
More on IPL 2025
DC Retentions: No place for Marsh, Stubbs or McGurk?
While the above three Indians are almost certain, there is a huge question mark on the overseas talents that DC could retain. While they would love to keep the likes of Mitchell Marsh, Tristan Stubbs and Jake Fraser-McGurk, it is the restriction of the retention slabs for them. After retaining Pant, Axar and Kuldeep, DC will be bound to pay a monstrous Rs 32 crore (Rs 18cr + Rs 14cr) combined for any two of these international stars. This is why we feel that the Capitals could do away by keeping them as Right to Match (RTM) options.
Moreover, among these three, it looks like Stubbs and McGurk are higher on DC’s preference. This is because as talented Marsh may be, he hasn’t justified his potential in IPL yet. The mighty Australian averages less than 20 in the cash-rich league, and has made just 3 fifties in 21 innings for DC. On the other hand, Stubbs and McGurk had a stupendous IPL 2024. While the South African hammered 378 runs at a SR of 190.9, McGurk clubbed 330 runs at a SR of 234.04.
DC Retentions: 2 Uncapped choices, but who?
The IPL 2020 runners-up, DC could be one of those teams who can ideally opt for two uncapped retentions. BCCI has brought back the old rule that considered capped Indian players who have not represented the Indian team in the last five years (or have not held a central contract with the BCCI for the same period) as uncapped players. While they don’t have any such players, DC’s best uncapped choices could be Abhishek Porel and Rasikh Dar.
DC Retentions: 1 RTM, 5 players
Mitchell Marsh, Tristan Stubbs, Prithvi Shaw, Harry Brook and Jake Fraser-McGurk—DC can use their one remaining RTM card on any of these players. That’ll depend on who they want and how the auction dynamics pan out on D-Day.
DC’s Current Squad as of IPL 2024
Rishabh Pant (c), Pravin Dubey, David Warner, Vicky Ostwal, Prithvi Shaw, Anrich Nortje, Abishek Porel, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Lungi Ngidi, Lalit Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Mitchell Marsh, Ishant Sharma, Yash Dhull, Mukesh Kumar, Harry Brook, Tristan Stubbs, Ricky Bhui, Kumar Kushagra, Rasikh Dar, Jhye Richardson, Sumit Kumar, Shai Hope, Swastik Chhikara, Lizaad Williams, Gulbadin Naib, Jake Fraser-McGurk
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