Delhi Capitals IPL 2027: Who Could Join And Leave The Squad?

Delhi Capitals have already made the biggest move of the IPL 2027 trade window. They're also being linked to two of its biggest names, and the same window could push several expensive players out of the squad.

The Confirmed Deal: Rishabh Pant Returns, Kuldeep Yadav Goes to Lucknow

DC's trade with Lucknow Super Giants is the only IPL 2027 swap confirmed so far.

Pant is listed as the most expensive player in IPL history at ₹27 crore, so a ₹15 crore trade fee brings him back to Delhi well below that headline price. Pant has not been named captain. Axar Patel remains DC's confirmed leader for now, so this is a rebuild around his return rather than a change of captaincy.

Why DC Moved So Fast

DC finished IPL 2026 sixth with seven wins from 14 matches, 14 points and a net run rate of -0.651. It was a fifth straight season without a playoff place. Their elimination was confirmed by Punjab Kings beating Lucknow on May 23, and the Pant-Kuldeep trade was completed on June 23. A one-month turnaround after another missed postseason shows a franchise willing to rethink its core, now under a new coaching setup led by Sourav Ganguly.

Hardik Pandya: The Biggest Name Linked to Delhi

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya is the most talked-about player in this window. Reports say DC are interested, with Cricbuzz suggesting Delhi could offer Axar Patel in exchange. That would be a notable swap, because Axar is the current DC captain. Any deal would reshape the leadership group Delhi are building around Pant.

Delhi aren't alone, and the competition affects their chances:

• CSK: CEO Kasi Viswanathan has denied any talks, though reports claim the franchise is exploring options. MI reportedly wanted Shivam Dube and Ayush Mhatre, then Dube and Dewald Brevis plus an extra ₹10 crore, which ended those negotiations.
• KKR: Reportedly offering captaincy, with Cameron Green possibly included in a swap. MI reportedly asked for Harshit Rana and Rinku Singh, and KKR turned that down.
• Rajasthan Royals: Could offer Yashasvi Jaiswal.
• Lucknow Super Giants: Could offer Nicholas Pooran.
• Gujarat Titans: Pandya reportedly reached out, but his captaincy demands led the franchise to back off.

MI could also keep him and simply remove the captaincy.

Abhishek Sharma: A Second Delhi Rumour

Abhishek Sharma has been linked to a move away from Sunrisers Hyderabad, with Delhi Capitals among four reported destinations alongside Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings. The speculation is that handing Ishan Kishan the captaincy may have unsettled him. It's a rumour with no confirmed approach behind it.

Who Could Leave Delhi Capitals

No reports so far suggest other DC players are being offered in trades. The candidates being discussed are release candidates, meaning players DC may let go before the mini-auction to free purse space. The case against each is clear from their IPL 2026 numbers.

Karun Nair (₹50 lakh, 2 matches, 18 runs) is a name to watch, with limited opportunity and an uncertain spot. Nabi is the most debatable case. He was the leading wicket-taker in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy with 60 wickets, so DC must choose between patience and recovering the money for a settled role.

The One Player Who Would Only Leave in a Trade

Sameer Rizvi is the exception to the release talk. He scored 252 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 147.36, including 70 not out against Lucknow and 90 against Mumbai, and costs only ₹95 lakh. Releasing him makes little sense. He would leave only as part of a bigger trade, which makes him a useful chip if DC pursue a name like Hardik.

What to Watch Next

The trade window is still open, and one of the confirmed headline moves involves DC. The next questions are whether Delhi can win the Pandya race with an Axar-based offer, whether Abhishek's reported unhappiness turns into a real approach, and which expensive bowlers are shown the door. The first answer could change who leads DC alongside Pant.