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October 10, 2024
Delhi Capitals is one of the three teams that has participated in all 17 seasons of the IPL but has yet to win the title. In the 2024 season, led by Rishabh Pant, the team finished sixth in the league and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year. Despite reaching the final only once, in 2020, the franchise is eager to make a strong comeback in 2025 and finally claim their first IPL trophy.
Before IPL 2025 begins, Delhi Capitals will have the option to retain up to six players from their 2024 squad, giving them the chance to hold onto some exciting talents as they prepare for the next season.
Rishabh Pant: Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is Delhi Capitals’ most experienced player, having played 111 matches for the team. He also holds the record for the most runs scored for the franchise, with 3,284 runs. The 26-year-old left-hander debuted for DC in 2016 and became captain in 2021. Retained for ₹16 crore before the 2022 IPL mega auction, Pant is expected to be the team’s first retention for the IPL 2025 auctions as well.
Axar Patel: All-rounder Axar Patel has been with Delhi Capitals since 2019, contributing 967 runs and taking 62 wickets in 82 matches. His impressive performances for both India and DC in recent years have boosted his reputation. Like Pant, Axar was retained before the IPL 2022 mega auction and is expected to remain a key player for the franchise moving forward.
Kuldeep Yadav: Delhi Capitals signed Kuldeep Yadav for ₹2 crore during the IPL 2022 mega auction. Over the past three seasons, the 29-year-old spinner has delivered strong performances, taking 47 wickets in 39 matches.
Jake Fraser-McGurk: In IPL 2024, DC brought in Australian batter Jake Fraser-McGurk as a replacement for injured South African pacer Lungi Ngidi. The 22-year-old made an immediate impact, scoring 330 runs in just nine matches at an impressive strike rate of 234.04. With his T20-ready skills, it’s unlikely DC will let go of the promising young player ahead of the next season.
Tristan Stubbs: South African cricketer Tristan Stubbs was picked up by Delhi Capitals for ₹50 lakh in the IPL 2024 auction. He played in all 14 matches, scoring 378 runs with an impressive average of 54.00 and a strike rate of 190.90. Stubbs is known not only for his explosive batting but also for his excellent fielding. He can also contribute as a part-time spinner and wicketkeeper, making him a valuable all-round player for DC.
Abhishek Porel (uncapped): Bengal’s wicketkeeper-batter Abhishek Porel made an impact with key performances for DC in IPL 2024, making him a strong candidate for retention as an uncapped player at ₹4 crore. DC may also consider Yash Dhull or Rasikh Salam for the sixth retention spot.
Read More: CSK All Set to Retain MS Dhoni for IPL 2025 But Fans Are Unhappy
The IPL Governing Council announced the retention rules ahead of the upcoming mega players’ auction. All 10 franchises must submit their list of retained players by 5 PM IST on October 31, 2024. As per Cricbuzz, any player who becomes capped by that date will be classified as a capped player.
Each franchise can retain up to six players, using the Right to Match (RTM) card during the auction. This will cost ₹75 crore out of the team’s increased purse of ₹120 crore. Additionally, Indian players who haven’t played an international match for at least five calendar years will be considered “uncapped” under the new retention guidelines.
Earlier on Saturday, BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced that all players selected for league matches will receive a fixed match fee of ₹7.50 lakh, along with an additional income of ₹1.05 crore on top of their salaries. Franchises must also set aside a fixed salary purse of ₹12.60 crore, in addition to the auction and retention purse of ₹120 crore, for the next season.
Retention Costs: While the IPL statement didn’t specify the exact retention costs, PTI reported that the first retained player will cost ₹18 crore, the second ₹14 crore, and the third ₹11 crore. If a franchise retains a fourth and fifth player, they will again pay ₹18 crore and ₹14 crore, respectively.
“If a franchise opts for all five retention of capped players, then will have only Rs 45 crore to buy or even use their RTM card to buy another 15 players and prepare a squad. There is no cap on Indian and overseas retention,” stated the PTI report.
Read More: IPL 2025 Retention Full List: 6 Players Each Team Could Retain Ahead of Mega Auction
Some English and Australian players have repeatedly withdrawn from their IPL franchises after being picked in the auction, often citing fatigue or other commitments. In response, the BCCI is now considering imposing a 2-year ban on any player who pulls out after being selected at the auction.
For overseas players, the rule would be stricter—if they choose not to register for an auction in a given year, they will be barred from participating for the following two years.
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