Delhi Capitals Retain Key Players Ahead of WPL Mega Auction
Delhi Capitals Announce Player Retentions
Delhi Capitals revealed their player retention strategy on Thursday as they prepare for the upcoming cycle of the Women's Premier League (WPL). In a surprising move, the franchise has opted to part ways with seasoned Australian batter Meg Lanning, who led the team to three consecutive finals without securing a title.
Key Players Retained
After thorough evaluations, the three-time finalists have confirmed the retention of Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Marizanne Kapp, Annabel Sutherland, and Niki Prasad ahead of this year's significant auction. Alongside Lanning, other notable players such as Alice Capsey, Arundhati Reddy, Jess Jonassen, and Radha Yadav have also been released.
World Cup Winners Remain with DC
Both Jemimah and Shafali were integral to India's recent World Cup victory, contributing significantly in the semi-finals and finals, showcasing the talent within the Capitals' roster. "This decision underscores our commitment to continuity and building a competitive squad. Our management and coaching staff have diligently assessed player performances to ensure we are positioned for ongoing success," stated the Delhi Capitals.
Management Expresses Satisfaction
Parth Jindal, Co-owner of Delhi Capitals and Founder of JSW Sports, commented, "Releasing players from such a high-performing squad is challenging, but it’s part of the mega auction process. Each player has been crucial to our journey. While we narrowly missed out on the trophy, we take immense pride in our achievements over the first three seasons. We are pleased with our retained players, as Jemi, Shafali, Marizanne, Annabel, and Niki form a solid foundation for our future. We wish all players, both retained and released, the best in their careers ahead. We are excited about the upcoming WPL mega auction and hope to take a step closer to the trophy this year," he added.
Chairman's Vision for the Future
Kiran Kumar Grandhi, Chairman and Co-Owner of Delhi Capitals, remarked, "The WPL has been a remarkable journey for both the sport and women's cricket in India. We are proud of our team's consistent performance in the first three seasons, reaching the finals and setting high standards of professionalism. As we enter a new phase, our focus will be on nurturing the talent we have and building around it. The upcoming mega auction represents an exciting new chapter, and we are confident that the Delhi Capitals will continue to inspire fans and strive for the trophy this year."
Coach Reflects on Team Dynamics
Jonathan Batty, Head Coach of Delhi Capitals, stated, "We have played exceptional cricket over the past three seasons. This was a closely-knit group that performed well together, and that unity was evident in our results. Releasing players after such a successful journey is always tough, but it’s part of the WPL's nature. We are pleased with our retained players and will focus on building the rest of the squad around this strong core. The auction ahead is going to be thrilling, and we look forward to what’s next."
Upcoming Mega Auction Details
The WPL 2026 Mega Auction is scheduled for the last week of November 2025. Notably, Delhi Capitals is the only franchise to have reached the finals in every edition of the tournament thus far.
Retained Players List: Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Marizanne Kapp, Annabel Sutherland, Niki Prasad
Released Players List: Meg Lanning, Sneha Deepthi, Alice Capsey, Arundhati Reddy, Jess Jonassen, Minnu Mani, N Charani, Shikha Pandey, Nandini Kashyap, Sarah Bryce, Taniyaa Bhatia, Radha Yadav, Titas Sadhu.