"You find it difficult to drop him" - Aakash Chopra on Delhi Capitals' potential releases after IPL 2025

Former India player Aakash Chopra has opined that the Delhi Capitals (DC) should consider Faf du Plessis' future with the franchise after IPL 2025. He noted that the veteran South African batter cannot continue to be the vice-captain, even if he is retained, highlighting that the think tank finds it difficult to drop him in such a scenario.

With 15 points from 14 games, the Delhi Capitals finished fifth in IPL 2025. While Axar Patel captained the franchise for the majority of the games, Du Plessis led them in their last two matches when the spin-bowling all-rounder was indisposed.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener reckoned that the Delhi Capitals should release Jake Fraser-McGurk and deliberate over Du Plessis' retention.

"If I think from the point of view of what needs to be done next year, say tata, bye-bye to Jake Fraser-McGurk. ₹9 crore gets freed immediately. So you will be able to shop better. Along with that, think about what needs to be done with Faf du Plessis," Chopra said (3:00).

"Comes very cheap, he is for ₹2 crore only, but he is not getting younger by the day, and you cannot make him the vice-captain because when you make him the vice-captain, you drop him only when he gets injured, or else you find it difficult to drop him," he added.

The former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player noted that DC could consider retaining Du Plessis since he was bought for just ₹2 crore, but added that he shouldn't continue as Axar's deputy.

"You might have eventually made up your mind to drop him, but Axar got injured by then. So you couldn't drop him again. So I am wondering what you would do with Faf. You can retain him as well as his price was very low, and let him be a part of the leadership group, but you will have to remove him as a vice-captain," Chopra observed.

Faf du Plessis played nine games for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025. He failed to give them flying starts as an opener, aggregating 202 runs at a strike rate of 123.92 in nine innings.

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"Mukesh Kumar is worth ₹8 crore" - Aakash Chopra on the Delhi Capitals' other potential releases after IPL 2025

Mukesh Kumar picked up 12 wickets at an economy rate of 10.32 in 12 innings in IPL 2025. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra named Mukesh Kumar as another player the Delhi Capitals should release, highlighting that the seamer has proved extremely expensive since his debut in the prestigious league.

"After that, I am saying Mukesh Kumar. Mukesh Kumar is worth ₹8 crore, and ever since he has started playing the IPL, I think he is the most expensive bowler among the ones who have bowled at least 100 balls. One gets slightly shocked, but that's true," he said (4:15).

The cricketer-turned-commentator noted that DC would make ₹17 crore available if they release Fraser-McGurk and Mukesh, and an additional ₹2 crore if they don't retain Du Plessis either.

"His economy rate is close to 10.50 runs per over. How can that be the case? He is a very experienced bowler. It's not that he is a spring chicken. He has represented India in all three formats. So that makes it ₹17 crore straightaway. If you add Faf's ₹2 crore to that, it becomes ₹19 crore," Chopra observed.

Aakash Chopra pointed out that the Delhi Capitals could release ₹17 crore more if they let go of T Natarajan and Harry Brook, assuming Sediqullah Atal is also not retained. While naming Dushmantha Chameera as another potential release, the analyst added that the Axar Patel-led side needs to bolster its seam-bowling and middle-order batting departments at the auction.