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With the IPL 2026 mini-auction just around the corner, all eyes are on the teams and their retention lists. For a team like Delhi Capitals, this is a golden opportunity to free up some serious cash by letting go of players who didn't quite work out last season. Rebuilding and plugging gaps is the name of the game, and that means DC will be making some tough calls.

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Here are four players who might be released by DC to pump up their auction purse.

Jake Fraser-McGurk (9 Crore)

After a breakout season in 2024, everyone expected fireworks from the young Aussie in 2025. DC even used an RTM card to keep him for 9 crore. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a massive letdown. With just 55 runs in 6 matches, he struggled badly. That's a lot of money for a top-order batsman who isn't scoring runs, making him a prime candidate for release.

T Natarajan (10.75 Crore)

DC spent big to get the left-arm pacer, hoping he would lead their bowling attack. Instead, T Natarajan was plagued by injury and played only one match all season. Paying over 10 crores for a player who spends the tournament on the sidelines just isn't smart business. It's very likely DC will release him and take that big salary back to the auction.

Mohit Sharma (2.2 Crore)

The veteran bowler had a season to forget. DC's bowling was a major weak point, and Mohit's performance didn't help. He managed to pick up only 2 wickets in the 8 games he played, and his economy rate was over 10. To fix their bowling woes, DC will probably look for a younger, more effective option and free up his 2.2 crore salary.

Faf du Plessis (2 Crore)

Bought in for 2 crore, the experienced South African batsman also failed to make a big impact. In 9 matches, he scored just 202 runs at a strike rate of around 124. DC needed more from a senior player. Releasing him would be a straightforward decision to save a couple of crores and look for a more explosive opener.

Who might DC go for in the Mini-Auction?

If DC releases all four of these players, they will add almost 24 crore to their auction purse. So, what will they do with all that cash? The answer seems simple: fix the problems from last season. They will almost certainly be hunting for a new, reliable opener who can score runs consistently at the top. Plus, after their bowlers leaked so many runs, expect them to spend a good chunk of that money on one or two quality, in-form bowlers to strengthen their pace attack.

Cameron Green offers both pace-bowling and a batter who can bat anywhere in the batting order. The tall Australian could be a go-to player for DC in this regard.