NEW DELHI: The inaugural Delhi Premier League (DPL) is set to kick off on August 17, featuring international stars like Rishabh Pant and Ishant Sharma. The league will comprise six men’s teams and four women’s teams, promising an exciting new chapter in Delhi’s cricket scene.
On Tuesday, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) unveiled the league with former India opener Virender Sehwag as the ambassador and conducted the player draft.
Pant and Ishant have been picked up by the Purani Delhi 6 team, while Harshit Rana, currently with the Indian team in Sri Lanka, has been drafted by the North Delhi Strikers. However, the participation of these India players is subject to their availability. “The India players’ eventual participation will depend on their commitments to the national team. Rishabh has given his consent to be placed in the draft for now,” DDCA president Rohan Jaitley said at the event.
The DPL joins the growing list of state T20 leagues and aims to provide a platform for young players to showcase their talent. Sehwag emphasized the importance of such leagues for player development. “In our younger days, we only thought of playing for India or Delhi. Now, the young generation wants to play T20. These leagues will help them get noticed,” Sehwag said.
He also noted that while T20 leagues are important, the younger generation should not abandon longer formats. “This DPL will help you get noticed, but to grow as a player, you will have to play four-day cricket. Just like the IPL is a basis for selection for the Indian team, the DPL will also serve the same purpose for the Delhi team,” Sehwag added.
Jaitley assured that DDCA’s primary focus will remain on Delhi’s long-format team. He also mentioned that the league has been cleared by the BCCI after thorough checks, and there will be a zero-tolerance policy towards any corrupt activities.
