THE THIRD SEASON of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) is set to gather momentum with India’s star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant and India women’s opener Pratika Rawal headlining the player auction, which will take place on July 1 in New Delhi. More than 600 players, over 400 men and 200 women, will go under the hammer as franchises assemble their squads for the 2026 season.
Organised by the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA), the auction will see eight men’s franchises and four women’s franchises complete their rosters ahead of the tournament, which is scheduled to be held from July 31 to August 30, 2026. The league has rapidly established itself as one of India’s premier state-based T20 competitions, providing a platform for both international stars and emerging domestic talent.
Among the marquee names available in the men’s auction are Rishabh Pant, Ishant Sharma, Nitish Rana, Harshit Rana, Navdeep Saini, Ayush Badoni, Priyansh Arya, Anuj Rawat, Suyash Sharma, Digvesh Rathi and Yash Dhull. The women’s pool is led by Pratika Rawal, alongside established cricketers including Shweta Sehrawat, Priya Punia, Soni Yadav and Ayushi Soni.
Ahead of the auction, franchises have already retained 65 men’s players and 28 women’s players, leaving a substantial pool of talent available for bidding. Each men’s franchise enters the auction with a total purse of ₹1.5 crore, while each women’s franchise has been allotted ₹75 lakh, with retention costs already deducted from their respective budgets.
The previous edition of the tournament was won by West Delhi Lions, captained by Nitish Rana, and the upcoming season is expected to attract even greater attention with the participation of several India internationals and IPL stars. The continued expansion of the DPL reflects the growing importance of state-run franchise leagues in strengthening India’s domestic cricket ecosystem and creating additional pathways for players aspiring to higher honours.
