Axar Patel Out? Players To Be Released By Delhi Capitals Before IPL 2027

An Underwhelming Campaign for the Delhi Capitals

The Delhi Capitals are set to conclude yet another Indian Premier League (IPL) season away from the elusive playoff spots. Following the Punjab Kings’ victory over the Lucknow Super Giants on the penultimate day of the league phase, the Capitals’ fate was officially sealed. Despite assembling a roster filled with high-profile talent, a combination of inconsistent performances and questionable tactical decisions hindered their momentum throughout IPL 2026. A particularly painful statistic from this season was their inability to defend home territory, losing five of their seven matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium—including a heart-breaking loss where they posted a massive 264 runs in the first innings.

Heading into their final encounter against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the iconic Eden Gardens, the Capitals sit with 12 points from 13 matches. While a victory in this final game could mathematically lift them to fifth place depending on other results, the reality is that the season has been a massive disappointment. With the tournament coming to a close, the management must conduct a thorough introspection of their squad dynamics. This naturally leads to widespread speculation regarding the roster—most notably the burning question: Axar Patel Out? Players To Be Released By Delhi Capitals Before IPL 2027 are currently being analyzed by experts as the team aims to build a more balanced unit.

Evaluating the Firing Line

The franchise has significant work to do before the next auction cycle. To build a championship-contending team, the management needs to shed underperforming assets and clear space in the salary cap. Here are the key players currently in the firing line.

1. Karun Nair

Karun Nair was signed during the IPL 2025 mega auction following a productive domestic season. He initially showed promise, notably smashing 89 off 40 balls against the Mumbai Indians, where he took the legendary Jasprit Bumrah to the cleaners. However, that performance proved to be an anomaly. Across 10 innings over the last two seasons, Nair has managed just 216 runs at an average of 21.60. With a strike rate of 175.60, the flashes of brilliance are there, but the consistency is lacking. Given that the Capitals have younger, versatile domestic options like Sameer Rizvi, Sahil Parakh, Abishek Porel, and Nitish Rana who can anchor the middle order, releasing Nair would free up INR 50L in the auction purse.

2. T Natarajan

Once touted as one of India’s most exciting white-ball bowlers, T Natarajan’s trajectory has been hampered by persistent injury issues. Despite his struggles in 2025, the Delhi management kept faith in him for 2026. Now 35, Natarajan has struggled to find his rhythm, picking up only 5 wickets in 10 matches this season. His economy rate of 11.18 runs per over is well above the acceptable standard for a senior campaigner. While he did show a brief spark against the Lucknow Super Giants with a 3/29 spell, his overall impact has been negligible. Releasing him would add a significant INR 10.75 crore back into the team’s budget, allowing them to pursue younger, more durable pace prospects.

3. Mukesh Kumar

Mukesh Kumar has been a mainstay in the Delhi bowling attack, serving as their third-highest wicket-taker over the past two seasons with 18 scalps in 22 matches. While he possesses the ability to trouble top-order batters with disciplined Test-match lines, his lack of consistency and high leakage of runs have been major liabilities. Since 2025, he has maintained an economy rate of 10.74, and in the current season, that has inflated to 11.26. Given the volume of runs he concedes relative to his wicket-taking frequency, the franchise may decide to move in a different direction, especially with the emergence of options like Auqib Nabi. Parting ways with Mukesh Kumar would grant the Capitals an additional INR 8 crore for their rebuild.

The Road Ahead

By parting ways with these three individuals, the Delhi Capitals could potentially clear INR 19.25 crore from their salary cap. This financial flexibility is crucial for a team looking to reshape its core philosophy. As the management looks toward IPL 2027, the focus will undoubtedly be on finding players who can maintain intensity at the Arun Jaitley Stadium and perform under pressure. While the fans remain anxious about the future of established stars, the upcoming off-season promises to be a busy one for the franchise’s hierarchy as they look to leave the disappointment of 2026 firmly in the past.