IPL 2020 runners-up Delhi Capitals (DC) failed to reach the playoffs in the last three seasons. So they are unsurprisingly desperate to change their present records. After recording their three successive playoff advances, including playing in the IPL 2020 final, DC finished in the 5th, 9th, and 8th places, respectively, in the last three IPL seasons.  

Delhi Capitals had to leave Rishabh Pant and retained only four players. Although they spent INR 43.75 crore to retain four players, they had to deduct INR 47 crore due to the official rules. It meant that they could spend INR 73 crore in the mega auction. 

Delhi Capitals: Key additions from the mega auction

Delhi Capitals put in a strong bid for KL Rahul as they set him in the squad by splurging INR 14 crore. Australian left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who was the most expensive player in the IPL auction history as Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for INR 24.75 crore during the IPL 2024 auction, joined the Capitals for INR 11.75 crore. The franchise also signed T Natarajan for INR 10.75 crore.

DC used RTM for the Australian batter Jake Fraser-McGruk and Indian pacer Mukesh Kumar for INR 9 crore and 8 crore, respectively, which is lesser than the official retained values. They also won the bid for Harry Brook, Faf du Plessis, Mohit Sharma, Dushmantha Chameera, etc. 

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DC Full Squad

Batters: (RTM) Jake Fraser-McGruk (Australian), Harry Brook (English), Faf du Plessis (South African)

Wicketkeepers: Tristian Stubbs (retained/South African), Abhishek Porel (retained), KL Rahul, Donovan Ferreira (South African)

All-rounders: Axar Patel (retained), Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Darshan Nalkande, Vipraj Nigam, Ajay Mandal, Manvanth Kumar, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari 

Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav (retained)

Pacers: (RTM) Mukesh Kumar, Mitchell Starc (Australian), Dushmantha Chameera (Sri Lankan), T Natarajan, Mohit Sharma 

Brief SWOT analysis

Delhi Capitals have great names in the batting line-up. From top-order to middle-order, the team has batters who have set examples with their consistent performances in the shorter format. DC all-rounders are full of talented Indians, but Axar Patel is the only experienced one of them. 

As Delhi Capitals have strong names in the batting and bowling, the inexperienced all-rounders will get strong support. However, except for KL Rahul, Abhishek Porel, and Axar Patel, there are no strong Indian names in the batting line-up. 

Delhi Capitals have strong and experienced pace-bowling lineups. Talking about their spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel will take the main charges. 

DC Best Possible XI for IPL 2025

KL Rahul, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, Tristan Stubbs/Harry Brook, Abishek Porel, Ashutosh Sharma, Axar Patel, Mitchell Starc, Mohit Sharma/Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, T. Natarajan