IPL 2026: 3 DC Players Who Could Be Traded Before the IPL Auction

The Delhi Capitals (DC) had a somewhat inconsistent 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, winning seven matches and losing seven total. They finished in fifth place on the points table and just missed the playoffs. Playing under the leadership of captain Axar Patel, DC were in a comfortable position before the middle of the season, but in the final six matches they lost four, dashing their playoff hopes. 

As the Capitals turn their attention to the next season, they will want to build of the positives from IPL 2025 to better their efforts for the title. Before the mini auction, the team will likely release or trade a few players to create more salary cap room to bring in a few big-name players to better fit the roster for the next season.

 Jake Fraser-McGurk

Jake Fraser-McGurk was bought by Delhi Capitals (DC) for a huge ₹9 crore at the IPL 2025 auction. But he couldn’t perform as expected. The young Australian opened the innings in the first six matches, scoring single digits in five of them, with his best being 38. He managed only 55 runs in total before being dropped from the team. Fraser-McGurk returned home during the break in IPL due to the rising tensions between India and Pakistan amid Operation Sindoor. When the IPL resumed, the 23-year-old decided not to return, and DC replaced him with Mustafizur Rahman. DC would likely want to release the youngster, as INR 9 crore could help them go after a few in-form players in the mini auction.

T Natarajan

T Natarajan was bought by Delhi Capitals (DC) for a huge price of ₹10.75 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction. The team had high hopes for him, but a shoulder injury kept him out for several matches. Even when he recovered, the management didn’t seem too interested in including him in the playing XI. As a result, Natarajan got to play only one match, where he gave away 49 runs in three overs and didn’t take any wickets. DC might now think about releasing him or trading him to another team before the next auction and look for a bowler who can make a bigger impact.

KL Rahul

KL Rahul was one of the major signings at the IPL 2025 mega auction, when he joined Delhi Capitals for ₹14 crore. Many assumed he would be the captain, however, he supposedly passed on being captain and played under Axar Patel. Rahul also modified his typical cautious style, opting to play more aggressively this season. He scored 539 runs in 13 matches at an average of 53.9 with a strike rate of 149.72.

While it seems that a player with such strong performances should be among the top retentions for the upcoming season, reports suggest otherwise. Rahul has been linked with several franchises, which are reportedly trying to trade him in from the Delhi Capitals. Whether he ends up shifting base will be discovered over the next few weeks; it goes without saying that his inclusion will make any side stronger.