The Delhi Premier League (DPL) is back for its second season in 2025, promising to be bigger and better than its inaugural edition. The DPL 2024 proved to be a successful launchpad for young talent, with several players making their mark and subsequently earning IPL contracts. This year, the league expands from six to eight teams, with the addition of two new franchises: Outer Delhi Warriors and New Delhi Tigers.
Auction Details
The DPL 2025 Men's Auction is scheduled for today, July 6, 2025, starting at 10:00 AM IST. The auction venue is the Taj Hotel in New Delhi. Cricket enthusiasts can catch the live streaming of the auction on FanCode.
Teams and Retentions
Eight teams will participate in DPL 2025: East Delhi Riders, North Delhi Strikers, West Delhi Lions, South Delhi Superstarz, Purani Dilli 6, Central Delhi Kings, Outer Delhi Warriors, and New Delhi Tigers.
Each of the original six franchises was allowed to retain one player from any of the four categories. The retained players are:
Following the retentions, each franchise enters the auction with INR 1.5 crore in their purse. Each existing team also has one Right to Match (RTM) card, which they can use to retain a released player from the auction pool, but this is not applicable to Marquee players. The two new franchises will not have any RTM.
Player Categories
The players are classified into four categories based on their experience and stature:
Key Players to Watch
Several prominent players are expected to be in high demand at the auction. These include Rishabh Pant, who was retained by Purani Dilli 6, and other notable names such as Ishant Sharma and Harshit Rana. Additionally, the inclusion of Aaryaveer Kohli (Virat Kohli's nephew) and Aryavir Sehwag (Virender Sehwag's son) has generated significant buzz. Digvesh Rathi and Priyansh Arya are also players to watch.
New Rules and Format
The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) has introduced a progressive rule change, eliminating the age cap for players. This allows cricketers across all age brackets, including U-16 players, to participate in the auctions, potentially boosting grassroots talent.
The league is expected to follow a round-robin format, with each team playing the others once, followed by playoffs. All matches will be held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. While the official schedule is yet to be announced, the tournament is likely to begin in the first week of August.
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