Delhi Capitals (DC) are reportedly looking to retain three key players from their Indian core—Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav—prior to the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) mega-auction. Franchises can retain up to six players under the new retention guidelines set by the governing body.
As per a report by PTI’s Kushan Sarkar, DC is focusing solely on these three players for retention. Rishabh Pant, as captain, is the top retention choice at INR 18 crore, while Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are set to be retained for INR 14 crore and INR 11 crore, respectively.
DC co-owner Parth Jindal recently confirmed plans to continue their association with Rishabh Pant. However, Pant stirred interest with a recent Twitter post speculating on his potential auction value.
Axar Patel was the second-choice retention at the end of the last cycle, receiving a contract of INR 9 crore before the 2022 auction. In contrast, Kuldeep Yadav joined the franchise for just INR 2 crore after a challenging period with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
He was considered one of the best value signings in the previous mega auction and had a standout season. With 47 wickets over the last three seasons, he made his way back into the Indian team and is regarded as a key player for the franchise.
Under the current retention strategy, promising overseas players Tristan Stubbs and Jake Fraser-McGurk may not be retained. DC can utilize the RTM option if it fits their budget during the mega auction, which could also signal the end for players like Prithvi Shaw, Mitchell Marsh, and Anrich Nortje.
Hemang Badani is set to become Delhi Capitals’ head coach after Ponting’s departure
Ricky Ponting was part of the off-season dismissals, as DC let him go after failing to reach the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. The report suggests that DC is looking to hire Hemang Badani as the new head coach, while former India pacer Munaf Patel is the top candidate for bowling coach.
Badani served as the fielding and coach for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) from 2021 to 2023 and has coaching experience in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) and the Lanka Premier League (LPL).
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.