Delhi Capitals Stars Who Can Take Retirement From IPL After 2026

Delhi Capitals players in IPL 2025. Credits - afp.com

"Always the bridesmaid, never the bride!" One name that pops up when you hear the given idiom in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) is Delhi Capitals.

Among the teams to have played all 18 seasons, DC is the only team to have played just one final, which also came in the last decade. However, the Capitals started the previous IPL season with a bang, winning their first four fixtures on a trot before winning just two games in their back-eight matches.

Ahead of the IPL 2026 in the mini-auction, the Axar Patel-led unit tried to make a strong side to do well in the tournament, and even win the maiden silverware. The franchise certainly did well at the auction table, bringing a perfect blend of experience to youth... but many of its players are heading towards the twilight of their IPL careers.

Also Read: Mumbai Indians Stars Who Can Take Retirement From IPL After 2026

Delhi Capitals players who can take IPL retirement after 2026

1) Mitchell Starc

Last to last season, in IPL 2024, Mitchell Starc returned to the league after featuring last nine years ago. His impact, you ask? He only took 15 wickets across the league phase, but came the knockouts, and Mitchell Starc was a whole different beast.

In both Qualifier 1 and the final, the burly left-arm quick bagged the game for KKR with the new ball as he didn't allow the SRH openers to settle in. Eventually, Kolkata won both the big matches, and Mitchell Starc was the Player of the Match in both.

However, in the subsequent season, Starc wasn't effective at all, playing for DC. He could only snap 14 wickets, in 10 outings, at an economy rate of over 10. At 36 years, the Aussie paceman has already retired from T20Is cricket, and will also be at the twilight of his IPL career. Starc is yet to receive his NOC from Cricket Australia, so don't be surprised if this IPL season becomes the last for him.

Criterion	Data (IPL)
Innings	49
Wickets	65
Economy	8.61
Strike Rate	16.1

2) Karun Nair

In IPL 2025, Karun Nair returned to DC after six seasons, and he played one of his top knocks that year. Against MI, the right-handed batter scored a splendid 40-ball 89, as he took on the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult during his blitz, but in a losing cause.

That year, he played a couple of cameos, which got him an India recall in the Tests. Nair failed to bag that opportunity as he could only notch a solitary half-century in eight innings on his comeback. At 34 years of age, the talented batter is only getting older, and the competition around him is more than ever.

Criterion	Data (IPL)
Innings	76
Runs	1694
Average	23.85
Strike Rate	131.72

3) David Miller

During the mini-auction ahead of IPL 2026, Delhi Capitals acquired David Miller at his base price of INR 2 crore, which hints at the demand for the South African across the franchises. In the past two years, the southpaw's numbers in T20I cricket have dropped miserably. Moreover, he hasn't done much in league cricket as well.

Barring a few knocks, which includes his grand perfomance against India in T20 WC, Miller hasn't done anything noteworthy. He may start for DC, but the Protea might be seen warming the bench if he wastes the given opportunities, given the pool of talent on offer in DC’s middle-order.