With the retention deadline approaching, Delhi Capitals face some tough calls ahead of the IPL 2027 auction.
Delhi Capitals had a mixed IPL 2026 campaign, finishing with seven wins and seven defeats to end up sixth on the points table. With the reported deadline for IPL 2027 retention submissions set for November 17, the franchise must now decide which players to keep and which to release.
The Capitals will need to assess where their squad requires strengthening before finalising their list. Three players in particular stand out as potential release candidates heading into the IPL 2027 auction.
These are the 3 Delhi Capitals players who could be released:
3. Ben Duckett
England batter Ben Duckett was bought by Delhi Capitals at the IPL 2026 auction for ₹2 crore, but he withdrew from the tournament before a single match was played. His absence left the franchise short of an overseas batting option they had specifically planned around.
The concern for Delhi heading into IPL 2027 is whether Duckett will be available at all. Under IPL withdrawal regulations, an overseas player who pulls out after being purchased at auction without a valid reason could face a ban of up to two seasons. Given that uncertainty, the Capitals may prefer to release him and use that ₹2 crore to recruit a more reliable overseas batter at the next auction.