The IPL 2025 auction is now over. The two days of the auction, held on November 24th and 25th in Jeddah, sparked more curiosity than previous IPL auctions. According to the latest BCCI rules, every team can retain up to six players. This time, almost every team was in the spotlight for various reasons related to the retention lists. Due to the new BCCI rules, each franchise was unable to retain all their favourite players, which made the auction pool especially surprising.
In the retention list, which was published before November, Delhi made a shocking move by not retaining their star player Rishabh Pant. They only retained Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, and uncapped player Abhishek Porel. Talking about the auction results, they seem to have almost built a new team for IPL 2025. With the release of many of their old players, they brought in some fantastic experienced players as well as exciting young talent.
It’s also surprising that they acquired KL Rahul from LSG, replacing Rishabh Pant. Rahul, who had a big price tag, was picked up from LSG, while Pant was released after creating a history of 27 crores. The Delhi team also purchased seasoned players like Mitchell Starc and Faf du Plessis, along with some young talents like Ajay Mandal and Dushmantha Chameera.
Throughout this article, we will explore the probable playing XI, captain, squad breakdown, coaches, and strengths and weaknesses analysis.
Delhi Capitals Probable Playing XI For IPL 2025
- KL Rahul
- Jake Fraser-McGurk ✈️ / Faf du Plessis ✈️
- Harry Brook ✈️
- Tristan Stubbs (WK) ✈️
- Abhishek Porel
- Sameer Rizvi
- Axar Patel
- Mitchell Starc ✈️
- Mukesh Kumar
- T Natarajan
- Kuldeep Yadav
((Note: ✈️ indicates overseas players)
Probable captains of DC for IPL 2025
1. KL Rahul: Delhi Capitals secured KL Rahul from Lucknow for ₹14 crore in the IPL 2025 auction. With Rishabh Pant out, Rahul is likely to captain the team. As a captain in the IPL, Rahul led in 64 matches, winning 31 with a win ratio of 48.43%. Known for his tactical approach and stability as an opener, he brings valuable leadership to Delhi Capitals.
2. Faf du Plessis: In a surprising turn, RCB did not retain their previous captain, allowing Delhi Capitals to secure veteran South African legend Faf du Plessis for just ₹2 crore. As a captain, Faf has led in 42 matches, with 21 wins and 21 losses, maintaining a balanced win ratio of 50%. His experience and leadership add immense value to DC’s lineup. He Could be a captaincy choice for the Blue Army.
3. Axar Patel: Axar Patel is another strong contender for the captaincy of Delhi Capitals. The star all-rounder, who was part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad, has previously captained DC in a few matches. In domestic cricket, Axar also led the Gujarat team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Tournament. If DC decides against KL Rahul or Faf du Plessis, Axar could be their go-to leader.
DC IPL 2025 Full Squad List
Batters:
- KL Rahul
- Harry Brook ✈️
- Jake Fraser-McGurk ✈️
- Karun Nair
- Faf du Plessis ✈️
Wicketkeepers:
- Abhishek Porel
- Tristian Stubbs ✈️
- Donovan Ferreira ✈️
All-Rounders:
- Axar Patel
- Sameer Rizvi
- Ashutosh Sharma
- Ajay Mandal
- Tripurana Vijay
Bowlers:
- Kuldeep Yadav
- T Natarajan
- Mitchell Starc ✈️
- Mukesh Kumar
- Mohit Sharma
- Darshan Nalkande
- Vipraj Nigam
- Dushmanta Chameera ✈️
- Manvanth Kumar
- Madhav Tiwari
(Note: ✈️ indicates overseas players)
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
DC IPL 2025 Coaches List
- Head Coach – Hemang Badani
- Bowling Coach – Munaf Patel
- Batting Coach – Pravin Kalyan Amre
Strengths of Delhi Capitals (DC) IPL 2025 Squad:
- Strong Batting Line-up: KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis, and Harry Brook provide depth and experience.
- Spin Attack: Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel lead a potent spin department.
- All-rounders: Axar Patel and Donovan Ferreira offer balance with bat and ball.
- Quality Fast Bowlers: Mitchell Starc and T Natarajan add pace and experience.
- Young Talent: Players like Ajay Mandal and Sameer Rizvi bring energy and potential.
Weaknesses of Delhi Capitals (DC) IPL 2025:
- Captaincy Uncertainty: Leadership is unclear after Rishabh Pant’s absence.
- No Backup for Key Players:: If key players like KL Rahul or Axar Patel face form or injury issues, the squad may struggle to find suitable replacements.
- Young, Inexperienced All-rounders: While Axar Patel is a proven all-rounder, other options like Sameer Rizvi, Vipraj Nigam, and Madhav Tiwari lack experience in pressure situations.
- Lack of Proven Finishers: The squad does not have established finishers in the middle or lower order.