3 top players that might have to be released by DC ahead of IPL 2025 ft. Prithvi Shaw

The Delhi Capitals (DC) fought hard in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). Boosted by the return of their captain Rishabh Pant, Delhi finished sixth in the standings, with seven wins from 14 league games.

While playoff qualification eluded the Capitals, they were boosted by a number of noteworthy campaigns from key players. Heading into the IPL 2025 mega auction, they are in a good position to secure a talented core that covers multiple facets of their game.

At the same time, though, DC might need to let go of a few superstars. The retention slabs announced by the IPL governing council are steep, and we might see many franchises weigh up the possibility of sending plenty of names into the pool.

On that note, here are three top players that might have to be released by DC ahead of IPL 2025.

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#3 Prithvi Shaw

Since being retained by the Capitals ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction, Prithvi Shaw's career hasn't gone to plan. Disciplinary and fitness issues, coupled with form woes, have destroyed the opener's chances of fulfilling his immense potential so far.

Shaw had a hugely underwhelming campaign in IPL 2024. Not only was he out of the XII for a good chunk of the season, but he also threw his wicket away when he was given opportunities to prove his worth at the top of the order.

While Shaw is still a quality player, given his ability to maximize the powerplay and the intent with which he bats, it's unlikely to see DC retain him for the ahead of the auction. They have better players to pick, and they might also not be willing to shell out at least ₹11 crore for a player who clearly hasn't been at his best for them.

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#2 Kuldeep Yadav

It seems like ages ago when the Delhi Capitals purchased Kuldeep Yadav for a paltry ₹2 crore. He has become an integral member of the side over the last three seasons, and his form has been consistent throughout.

In IPL 2024, Kuldeep picked up 16 wickets in 11 matches at a decent economy rate. He's the team's lead spinner, and Delhi will certainly want to keep hold of his services ahead of the new campaign. However, do they have the slots to retain the left-arm wrist-spinner ahead of the other options at their disposal?

Very few teams are likely to keep hold of their wrist-spinners, meaning that there could be ample options available at the auction. There's also the question of whether Kuldeep will go for a price north of ₹11 crore, with other quality Indian options like Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Yuzvendra Chahal and Mayank Markande in the mix.

Kuldeep is among the best T20 spinners in the country, but DC might struggle to keep hold of his services.

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#1 Jake Fraser-McGurk

Playing his first IPL season, Jake Fraser-McGurk had a sensational campaign for the Delhi Capitals. He notched up 330 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 234.04, taking on challenging roles in the top order and coming out with flying colors.

Fraser-McGurk is one of the most exciting talents in world cricket, and DC will go to great lengths to keep him on their roster. However, players like Rishabh Pant, Tristan Stubbs and Axar Patel are in the mix, and the Aussie might be behind them in the pecking order.

Retaining Kuldeep and Fraser-McGurk, along with the aforementioned trio, might take too much out of Delhi's purse ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. They might want to give themselves options at the event, where RTM cards and a large purse could prove decisive.