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The Delhi Capitals (DC) had a middling campaign in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). The return of their captain, Rishabh Pant, helped matters, but they narrowly missed out on the playoffs after a series of inconsistent performances to start their season.
Nevertheless, Delhi are in an excellent position ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. With five capped retention slots available to them, they have plenty of options to choose from. DC could either opt to retain their entire core or keep hold of just three players and give themselves a bit of wiggle room with their purse and RTM cards at the auction.
If the Capitals were to retain only three players, which ones should they be? Here are three players DC must retain ahead of IPL 2025.
#3 Tristan Stubbs
Signed at an underwhelming price at the IPL 2024 auction, Tristan Stubbs quickly showed why he is one of the most exciting talents in world cricket. The middle-order batter came up with a series of sensational displays that showcased his immense range against both pace and spin.
Stubbs is capable of taking up an extremely difficult role as a finisher. Moreover, he has the ability to get going from the outset and can access all areas of the ground with an ease that is shocking for a batter of his age. The South African is also quite solid against spin.
Not only does Stubbs offer all of the above, but he is also a wicket-keeping option and a more than handy part-time off-spin bowler. He is electric on the field, making him a truly complete three-dimensional package. It would be extremely silly if the Capitals let him into the auction.
#2 Rishabh Pant
To be brutally realistic, Rishabh Pant, the current T20 batter, might not be worth the amount DC will pay to retain him ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. However, he offers so much as a complete package that he is extremely hard to ignore.
Pant's is clearly DC's man to lead the franchise. He is a solid presence behind the stumps and an excellent hitter of pace. While the left-hander's spin game, thinking and ability to get off the blocks quickly have room for improvement, he is still young and has a long career ahead of him.
Pant's remarkable comeback from injury showed what he is made of mentally. Delhi will be comfortable with the fact that he, one of India's biggest stars, is the man to take them forward in the IPL.
#1 Axar Patel
An underrated presence in the Delhi Capitals lineup, Axar Patel is now India's premier spin-bowling all-rounder in the T20I format following Ravindra Jadeja's retirement. A quality option with both bat and ball, he is bound to be at the center of DC's plans ahead of the IPL 2025 auction.
Axar's batting has improved leaps and bounds over the last few years. He is now a capable attacking option against spin, and his pace game has improved enough for him to be deployed in roles lower down the order. The left-hander played a couple of valuable knocks for India in their victorious 2024 T20 World Cup campaign.
Axar's bowling has blown hot and cold lately, but he is still a trustworthy option who can bowl in the powerplay and maintain a stranglehold over the middle overs. He will certainly be one of the franchise's first retention choices.
