After spending just one IPL season with the Delhi Capitals (DC), Mitchell Starc may very well be on his way out of the franchise ahead of the upcoming campaign. According to a report by Cricbuzz, Starc is on DC's release list and may have to search for a new franchise ahead of IPL 2026.
The Australia pacer had been signed by the franchise at the IPL 2025 auction for an enormous fee of INR 11.75 crore and had been relatively successful with the franchise as well. He had played with 11 matches for the team during the season, picking up a total of 14 wickets and recording the best bowling figures of 5/35. He was the second-highest wicket-taker for the franchise during the season, contributing immensely in the bowling department.
DC to release Natarajan as well?
Another player that DC may part ways with ahead of IPL 2026 is T. Natarajan. The Indian left-arm seamer was signed by the franchise for a massive fee of INR 10.75 crore at IPL 2025 auction. However, he ended up playing just two games for the side due to injury and failed to clinch a single wicket in those two matches.
DC's disappointing IPL 2025 campaign
Meanwhile, the Delhi-based franchise had a bittersweet IPL 2025 campaign as after making a fine start, the team slipped up big time in the final few matches. Three defeats in their last five games of the league stage ended up sealing their fate as they finished fifth on the standings with 15 points from 14 matches. It was Mumbai Indians, who made the playoffs over them by recording 16 points in the league stage.
On the other hand, the Cricbuzz report also claimed that the Chennai Super Kings have put the names of five players on their release list including - Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi, Sam Curran and Devon Conway. This comes after the franchise has had INR 9.75 crore added to their purse following the recent IPL retirement from Ravichandran Ashwin.