Rodrigues had been identified as a central figure in Delhi’s long-term plans from the beginning. She was the first player the franchise bid for in the inaugural auction, in 2023, and was the first of the five retentions DC announced ahead of the next cycle. Delhi’s other retentions included Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland (Australia), Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), and uncapped U-19 World Cup winning captain Niki Prasad. While the four internationals all were retained for an equal INR 2.2 crore, Niki was kept on the roster for INR 60 lakh.
