For Delhi Capitals fans, the 2025 IPL season may have felt like a roller coaster – it started with a bang and finished with an abrupt stop. Delhi flirted with the playoffs, played quality cricket, and eventually fell to fifth place. Now, with the 2026 auction looming large, one thing is for sure: there are some difficult decisions to be made.
T Natarajan
When DC made a huge ₹10.75 crore investment in T Natarajan, they were hoping to leverage his yorkers and death bowling to help win them some matches. Instead, they hardly got to see him play. T Natarajan was injured at the start of the season with a shoulder injury, and by the time he was fit, the team had already found a rhythm they were reluctant to disrupt.
Let me hit you with the hard truth: Natarajan is a very good quality bowler when fit, but the fit part seems to be getting worse, as the years go by, and it is a big “if” now. The IPL seasons are tough, and as a senior pacer, you can barely be called a pacer. who could end up being on the sidelines for half of a season is not ideal, especially at his price point.
DC could easily release him, test the waters at the auction, and maybe even buy him back for a fraction of the cost. If not, there will be younger, fitter, and hungrier pacers waiting to grab that spot.
Mukesh Kumar
Mukesh Kumar is one of those bowlers who show flashes of brilliance but leave you scratching your head the rest of the time. In IPL 2025, he took 12 wickets in 12 games—a decent return—but his economy rate? A staggering 10.33. For someone on an ₹8 crore contract, that’s tough to justify.
The thing with Mukesh is that he doesn’t quite fit into any specific role. He doesn’t own the death overs, doesn’t terrorize the powerplay, and drifts in and out during the middle phase. At 31, with younger options coming through the domestic circuit, DC might be better off releasing him and looking for someone who offers better value for money.
Jake Fraser-McGurk
How much did opposition bowlers evolve their plans to counter Jake’s ultra-aggressive style in 2025? Teams remember and have been analysing his game all off-season long. As the IPL 2025 commenced, teams all formed plans for him. The high-risk method that made him a bowler’s Nightmare was ineffective because opposition teams had learned his technique and found the weaknesses. What also did not work for Jake was a slew of low scores. This all contributed to demoralisation, leading to him losing his place in the playing XI.
At ₹9 crore, DC was obviously gambling on his potential, but the IPL tends not to favour one-dimensional players. Even a past-his-prime Faf du Plessis is working at the top better than he is. Sometimes it makes sense for both parties to take a break for the moment and reset.
FAQs
- Why is T Natarajan on the release list?
His frequent injuries and high price tag make him a risky investment.
- What happened to Jake Fraser-McGurk in IPL 2025?
Oppositions figured out his high-risk batting style, leading to repeated failures.
- Will DC try to buy back any released players?
They might, but likely at much lower prices if available.
