Delhi Capitals (DC) full squad composition, Probable playing XI and IPL 2025 auction analysis. How did Delhi fare at the IPL 2025 Auction? A complete Delhi Capital squad analysis.
The recently concluded IPL 2025 mega auction was an eventful one, and it surely has changed the dynamics of the franchises. While some of the teams have managed to get back their core from the last few seasons, few have changed the complete outlook of their sides.
Delhi Capitals (DC) is one of the sides that fall in the second category. Barring their four retentions alongside Harry Brook, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Mukesh Kumar, DC didn’t look to buy back any of their former players at the auction.
Delhi Capitals IPL 2025 squad
KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Harry Brook, Ashutosh Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Faf du Plessis, Sameer Rizvi, Dushmatha Chameera, Donovan Ferreira, Vipraj Nigam, Karun Nair, Madhav Tiwari, Darshan Nalkande, Tripurana Vijay, Ajay Mandal, Manvanth Kumar
Batters and wicket-keepers
A brief look reveals that the Capitals have a strong array of batting options at their disposal. In the top order, they have seasoned IPL campaigners KL Rahul and Faf du Plessis. Then they have some of the best young T20 talents in the form of Fraser-McGurk, Harry Brook, and uncapped batters Sameer Rizvi and Ashutosh Sharma. This line-up presents a perfect mix of experience and youth, something that would help them in the long run. Additionally, the Capitals also have an experienced India batter, Karun Nair, who can play the ideal backup.
Continuing on the subject of batters, DC have a backup wicket-keeper in the form of the highly impressive Abhishek Porel. Porel, one of the retained players, is an integral part of the team and can take up gloves if Rahul plays as a pure batter.
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All-rounders: Good selection in the squad
Even before the auction, DC retained two of their premier all-rounders, Axar Patel and Tristan Stubbs. At the auctions, they obtained the services of the hard-hitting middle-order batter, Donovan Ferreira, and a couple of local players like Manvanth Kumar, Madhav Tiwari, and Ajay Mandal. The likes of Axar, Stubbs, or Donovan may not seem world-class but are great utility picks.
Bowlers: Quality quicks and lone spin-wolf
While the Capitals didn’t retain any pacers before the auction, they managed to buy some quality quicks in the event. To lead the attack, DC have the Aussie pacer, Mitchell Starc, who will be complemented at the death overs by T Natarajan. They managed to buy back Mukesh Kumar, who had a great season in IPL 2024. Mohit Sharma, who has a great slower delivery and change-ups, completes their core pace attack. They have decent back-ups in Sri Lanka international Dushmatha Chameera and young India uncapped player Darshan Nalkande.
Kuldeep Yadav is the only quality spinner available for DC aside from left-arm spinner Axar Patel. The T20 game is largely a wrist spinners’ playground, and DC don’t have a backup for Kuldeep apart from the young uncapped leggie, Vipraj Nigam. The only other spin bowling option is Tripurana Vijay, another young gun.
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Delhi Capitals (DC) Probable playing XI for IPL 2025
Jake Fraser-McGurk, KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Ashutosh Sharma/Sameer Rizvi, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhishek Porel, Mitchell Starc, Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan
Conclusion
Overall, the Capitals have assembled a squad that will hold them in good stead for the coming seasons. However, the major challenges lie in their identification of the four starting foreigners in the playing XI. DC will also have to ponder what their middle order should look like and who among the unknown faces will be part of the XI.
They look a talented bunch on paper, but certain first-choice players like Fraser-McGurk, Ashutosh Sharma, and Porel are relatively inexperienced. This would increase the dependency on seniors like Rahul, du Plessis, Axar, and Stubbs in the batting order. However, the bowling takes care of itself aside from the lack of a genuine backup to Kuldeep Yadav.
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