Delhi Capitals Retention: Shock As Lizelle Lee Released

Delhi Capitals had another impressive Women’s Premier League campaign in 2026. Under the leadership of Jemimah Rodrigues, the team recovered strongly in the second half of the tournament, reached the playoffs and eventually finished as runners-up.

After another run to the final, most expected Delhi Capitals to maintain continuity heading into WPL 2027. However, their retention announcement has produced one major surprise.

Delhi Capitals have retained 13 players and released six ahead of the WPL 2027 auction. The biggest name among the released players is South African power-hitter Lizelle Lee, who was DC’s highest run-scorer in WPL 2026.

Delhi Capitals WPL 2027 Retained Players List With Salary

DC have kept most of their established core together, including captain Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Marizanne Kapp and Annabel Sutherland.

The four biggest contracts belong to Jemimah, Shafali, Kapp and Sutherland at ₹2.20 crore each. Chinelle Henry and N Sree Charani were both acquired for ₹1.30 crore, while Laura Wolvaardt joined for ₹1.10 crore.

Delhi Capitals Release Lizelle Lee Despite Outstanding WPL 2026

The biggest surprise in the Delhi Capitals WPL 2027 retained players announcement is the release of Lizelle Lee.

Delhi bought the South African wicketkeeper-batter for just ₹30 lakh at the WPL 2026 mega auction. That move proved to be excellent value as Lee became one of the tournament’s best batters.

She finished WPL 2026 with 320 runs from 10 innings at an average of 32 and a strike rate of 139.13. She scored two half-centuries, smashed 46 fours and 11 sixes, and registered a highest score of 86.

Lee was not only Delhi’s highest run-scorer but also finished as the fourth-highest run-getter in the entire WPL 2026 season, behind Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Nat Sciver-Brunt.

Considering those numbers, her release is easily one of the most interesting calls ahead of the WPL 2027 auction.

Lizelle Lee’s Power-Hitting Will Be Difficult To Replace

Lee’s value to Delhi was about more than the number of runs she scored.

She gave DC genuine power at the top of the order and could put bowling attacks under pressure inside the powerplay. Her 11 sixes were among the highest totals in WPL 2026.

Her best innings came against Gujarat Giants when she smashed 86 in a chase of 210.

Lee and Laura Wolvaardt almost pulled off a remarkable chase, but Gujarat held their nerve in the final over to win by four runs.

Finding another opener capable of combining that level of power with consistent run-scoring could now become one of DC’s priorities at the auction.

Delhi Capitals Retain Their Main Batting Core

While Lee’s departure will attract attention, Delhi have kept the rest of their major batting options.

Captain Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma remain two of the biggest Indian names in the squad.

Laura Wolvaardt has also been retained after scoring 317 runs in WPL 2026, only three fewer than Lee. She averaged 45.29 and provides DC with a technically strong overseas option at the top of the order.

Niki Prasad, Deeya Yadav and Mamatha Madiwala also remain part of the Indian group.

Delhi Capitals Retain Five Overseas Players

Delhi Capitals currently have five overseas players among their 13 retentions.

DC’s overseas core still looks strong despite Lee’s departure.

Kapp remains one of the most experienced all-rounders in women’s cricket, while Sutherland offers batting power and pace bowling.

Wolvaardt provides stability at the top, Henry offers power and seam bowling, while young Australian Lucy Hamilton remains another development option.

N Sree Charani And Nandani Sharma Strengthen Indian Bowling Core

Delhi have also kept two of their important Indian bowlers in N Sree Charani and Nandani Sharma.

Sree Charani was bought for ₹1.30 crore at the WPL 2026 auction and finished the season with 14 wickets.

Nandani Sharma enjoyed an outstanding campaign and finished with 17 wickets, sharing the top spot on the tournament wicket-taking chart with Sophie Devine.

With Minnu Mani also retained, Delhi already have several Indian bowling options in place before entering the auction.

Delhi Capitals WPL 2027 Released Players List With Salary

DC have released six players, including three overseas names.

*Note: Alana King’s status needs to be treated separately from the original WPL 2026 auction salary list because she was not part of DC’s original 16-player auction squad.

Delhi Capitals’ official WPL 2027 announcement confirms all six players have been released.

Pragati Singh and E Srujana were also not part of DC’s original auction squad. They joined midway through WPL 2026 after Deeya Yadav and Mamatha Madiwala were ruled out with injuries. Both were signed for ₹10 lakh each.

Sneh Rana Released After One Season

Sneh Rana is another experienced Indian player who will return to the auction.

Delhi acquired the all-rounder for ₹50 lakh at the WPL 2026 mega auction.

However, DC have decided not to continue with her for the next season.

Her departure, along with the release of Alana King, gives Delhi room to make changes to their spin-bowling group around Sree Charani and Minnu Mani.

Taniyaa Bhatia Also Released

Delhi Capitals have also parted ways with wicketkeeper-batter Taniyaa Bhatia.

The Indian wicketkeeper was bought for ₹30 lakh at the WPL 2026 auction.

With Lizelle Lee also released, Delhi’s wicketkeeping combination could be one of the areas the franchise looks to address during the WPL 2027 auction.

Mamatha Madiwala is currently the wicketkeeper-batter among the retained group.

Delhi Capitals Keep Their Proven Overseas Core

Despite releasing Lee and King, Delhi have avoided making wholesale changes to their overseas group.

Kapp, Sutherland, Wolvaardt, Henry and Hamilton have all been retained.

Kapp and Sutherland were among the five players Delhi retained before the 2026 mega auction, while Wolvaardt and Henry were major auction purchases.

That gives DC a settled international core while still leaving them room to add another overseas player at the auction.

Delhi Capitals WPL 2027 Retained And Released Players At A Glance

Retained Players (13): Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Marizanne Kapp, Annabel Sutherland, Laura Wolvaardt, Chinelle Henry, Lucy Hamilton, N Sree Charani, Niki Prasad, Minnu Mani, Deeya Yadav, Mamatha Madiwala and Nandani Sharma.

Released Players (6): Lizelle Lee, Taniyaa Bhatia, Alana King, Pragati Singh, E Srujana and Sneh Rana.

Overseas players retained: 5

Overseas players released: Lizelle Lee and Alana King are overseas players; the remaining released names are Indian.