Delhi Capitals (DC) entered the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season with strong expectations and a well-balanced squad, but their campaign eventually lost steam due to inconsistent performances and recurring injuries. Despite starting the tournament on a promising note, the franchise slipped in the latter half, which ultimately cost them a playoff spot. DC finished fifth in the league standings with seven wins from fourteen matches.

The franchise made several notable acquisitions at the IPL 2025 mega auction, bringing in star players such as KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Dushmantha Chameera, and Faf du Plessis. Combined with their key retention, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Abishek Porel, and Tristan Stubbs, they appeared to have built a strong core capable of competing for the title.

However, injuries derailed their momentum. Axar, who was leading the side, suffered a finger injury that ruled him out for a crucial phase of the tournament. This forced Du Plessis to step in as captain, disrupting the rhythm that the team had established early in the season.

Despite the setbacks, DC displayed resilience and produced several impressive performances. With a fully fit squad, their campaign could have taken a different trajectory. This brings the focus to whether their retention decisions were well judged.

In this regard, DC made mostly sensible choices. They retained a stable core group featuring Stubbs, Rahul, Axar, Karun Nair, Porel, Starc, and Kuldeep. They also held onto promising domestic players such as Vipraj Nigam, Madhav Tiwari, Tripurana Vijay, and Ajay Mandal, ensuring depth. Additionally, their trade for Nitish Rana from Rajasthan Royals strengthened the middle order and added valuable experience.

On the release front, they parted ways with du Plessis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Donovan Ferreira, Sediqullah Atal, Mohit Sharma, Darshan Nalkande, and Manvath Kumar, decisions that appeared aligned with their long-term vision.

In conclusion, Delhi Capitals executed their retention strategy effectively, preserving their core while making room for fresh talent. With a few smart additions, especially among Indian domestic players, they have the potential to return stronger in the IPL 2026 season.