Delhi Capitals (DC), who are in contention for the IPL 2025 playoffs, have been dealt a huge blow as vice-captain Faf du Plessis and his South African compatriot Donovan Ferreira have refused to return for the resumption of the tournament.

The IPL 2025 was paused for a week on May 9 due to escalating tensions on the border between India and Pakistan. As soon as an agreement was reached between the two nations, the BCCI wasted no time and announced that the IPL 2025 will resume on May 17, with the final to be played on June 3, along with a revised schedule.

However, ESPNCricinfo has reported that both Faf du Plessis and Donovan Perreira have chosen not to return for the remaining leg of IPL 2025.

Jake Fraser-McGurk and Mitchell Starc, two of Australia's top pacers, had earlier withdrawn from the season. With only South Africa's Tristan Stubbs, Sediqullah Atal, and Dushmantha Chameera guaranteed to return, Delhi Capitals is now short on foreign recruits for the rest of the matches.

Mustafizur Rahman, a pacer from Bangladesh, was selected to replace Fraser-McGurk, however, his participation is uncertain due to a No Objection Certificate issue and a conflict with a T20I series.

Delhi Capitals have 13 points from 11 matches in IPL 2025 with 6 wins and 4 losses and a NRR of 0.362. They still have three matches left and a win in two of those will almost ensure their playoffs qualification.

DC will face GT in Delhi on May 18, MI in Mumbai on May 21, and PBKS in Jaipur on May 24.*