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

Axar Patel for Delhi Capitals. Image Credits: AFP

The End of a Disappointing Campaign for Delhi Capitals

The Delhi Capitals have once again found themselves on the outer ring of the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoff race. Their exit was officially sealed following the Punjab Kings’ away victory against the Lucknow Super Giants on the penultimate day of the league phase. Despite building what seemed to be a highly competitive and balanced squad during the previous auction, a combination of tactical missteps and individual underperformances derailed their campaign.

Delhi’s home record at the Arun Jaitley Stadium was particularly disappointing. They lost five out of their seven home matches, with one of those defeats coming in a match where they remarkably scored 264 runs in the first innings. As they head into their final match of the season against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens, they sit at 12th on the points table with 12 points from 13 matches (6 wins and 7 losses). While a victory could theoretically push them as high as fifth place—provided the Rajasthan Royals lose to the Mumbai Indians—it remains a minor consolation for a season that demands deep introspection.

Axar Patel Out? Analyzing the Delhi Capitals Core

With a major roster shake-up on the horizon, rumors have begun circulating regarding the core of the squad. The question on many fans’ minds is: Axar Patel Out? Players To Be Released By Delhi Capitals Before IPL 2027. While Axar Patel has long been a foundational pillar for the franchise with his reliable left-arm spin and lower-order batting, the management must look at every option to optimize their budget. However, before making any drastic decisions on their premier all-rounder, Delhi Capitals will first look to offload several high-priced players who failed to deliver consistent value during the IPL 2026 season. By releasing underperforming assets, the franchise can free up substantial funds to rebuild a balanced squad around their core players.

1. Karun Nair: A Domestic Gamble That Didn’t Pay Off

Delhi Capitals acquired Karun Nair at his base price of INR 50 Lakhs during the IPL 2025 mega auction, hoping his stellar domestic form would translate into middle-order stability. Nair initially showed immense promise, smashing a brilliant 89 off 40 balls against the Mumbai Indians, where he courageously took on world-class bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

Unfortunately, that knock proved to be an isolated highlight. Across 10 innings spanning the IPL 2025 and IPL 2026 seasons, Nair managed only 216 runs at an average of 21.60, despite maintaining a healthy strike rate of 175.60. That half-century against Mumbai remained his only fifty across both seasons. Ahead of the final match of the 2026 season, Nair had only been featured in the starting eleven twice. With a wealth of promising young domestic talents like Sameer Rizvi, Sahil Parakh, Abishek Porel, and Nitish Rana capable of slotting into the crucial number 3 position, Delhi Capitals are highly likely to release Nair, freeing up INR 50 Lakhs in their salary purse.

2. T Natarajan: High Price Tag, Low Returns

T Natarajan first rose to prominence as one of the finest death-bowling specialists in the IPL during his tenure with the Sunrisers Hyderabad, eventually earning him national selection across all three formats. However, a series of persistent injuries derailed his international career. Despite ongoing fitness concerns, the Delhi Capitals management decided to back the left-arm pacer heading into the IPL 2026 season.

At 35 years of age, Natarajan struggled to find his rhythm in IPL 2026. In his 10 appearances, he managed to secure just 5 wickets while conceding runs at a very expensive economy rate of 11.18 runs per over. Furthermore, three of those five wickets came in a single match against the Lucknow Super Giants, where he returned figures of 3/29. Outside of that single performance, his impact was minimal. Releasing Natarajan before the IPL 2027 auction would free up a massive INR 10.75 crore, providing the Capitals with the necessary financial power to invest in younger, more durable fast-bowling talents.

3. Mukesh Kumar: Consistency and Economy Concerns

Mukesh Kumar has been a prominent figure in Delhi’s bowling attack, standing as the team’s third-highest wicket-taker over the last two seasons with 18 wickets in 22 matches. Known for his disciplined Test-match lines and lengths, Mukesh has the ability to trouble top-order batsmen when conditions offer assistance. However, his lack of consistency and high economy rate have become major issues in the shortest format of the game.

Since the beginning of the IPL 2025 season, Mukesh has recorded an overall economy rate of 10.74 runs per over. His struggles amplified in IPL 2026, where he picked up just 6 wickets in 10 innings at an alarming economy rate of 11.26. For a frontline Indian fast bowler, conceding runs at such a high rate without a high volume of wickets is unsustainable. With the emergence of promising alternatives like Auqib Nabi, Delhi Capitals are expected to release Mukesh Kumar. Doing so will add another INR 8 crore to their auction purse.

Rebuilding for IPL 2027: The Financial Outlook

By moving on from Karun Nair, T Natarajan, and Mukesh Kumar, the Delhi Capitals can clear a combined total of INR 19.25 crore from their wage bill. This significant injection of funds will give the management the flexibility needed to target premier overseas fast bowlers and dynamic middle-order finishers in the next auction. As Delhi Capitals look to transition into a new era, restructuring their bowling lineup and optimizing their domestic core will be the ultimate keys to finding success in IPL 2027.