The Delhi Premier League (DPL) is set to make its debut on August 17, with a lineup featuring some prominent names from Indian cricket. Rishabh Pant, Navdeep Saini, and Harshit Rana are among the key players confirmed for the inaugural season, which will be held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Despite currently being in Sri Lanka, Pant and Rana are expected to participate as there are no international or domestic fixtures overlapping with the tournament’s schedule. Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) chief Rohan Jaitley confirmed that Pant has promised his involvement, barring any unforeseen national commitments. Saini and Rana are also set to join the action.
The DPL will feature six teams—West Delhi Lions, North Delhi Strikers, South Delhi Superstarz, Purani Delhi-6, Delhi Kings, and East Delhi Riders—following an auction on July 28, where the teams were sold for a total of Rs 49.65 crore. The league will consist of 40 games, with 33 matches for men and 7 for women. The women’s games will be part of a shorter series within the league.
The player draft includes 270 cricketers from Delhi’s national, U23, and U19 teams, with potential appearances from IPL veterans like Ishant Sharma, Yash Dhull, Mayank Yadav, and Anuj Rawat. While the first half of the league is clear of scheduling conflicts, the final, set for September 8, will overlap with the start of the Duleep Trophy on September 5.