Delhi Premier League auction to be held on July 01, season to get underway on July 31

The Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) has announced the dates and the auction timeline for the 2026 season of the Delhi Premier League T20.

The third edition of the franchise league from the capital city is set to commence on July 31 and will run till August 30. The auction for the 2026 season will be held on July 1. The entire tournament will be held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The West Delhi Lions, led by Nitish Rana, emerged as champions in the 2025 season.

“Year on year, the Delhi Premier League has continued to get better and the quality of cricket on display has reflected the depth of talent that exists in Delhi. The league has quickly become an important part of our cricketing calendar and has generated tremendous interest among players and supporters alike,” said DDCA President Rohan Jaitley.

"We have seen several cricketers perform strongly in the DPL and go on to represent teams at the highest levels of the game. The league has become an integral part of the talent identification pathway in Delhi cricket, and we are confident that Season 3 will once again provide a platform for the next generation of players to showcase their abilities," Jaitley added.

Star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who just completed a high-profile trade return to the Delhi Capitals, is expected to miss a sizeable portion of the season, with the two Tests against Sri Lanka set to be played in the middle of August 2026. Names like Priyansh Arya, Prince Yadav and Harshit Rana could miss the start of the season with the T20I series against Zimbabwe scheduled for late July.

The third edition of the Women's Delhi Premier League will simultaneously take place with the men's tournament. The South Delhi Superstarz, led by Shweta Sehrawat, emerged as champions in the 2025 edition. Star players such as Sehrawat, Priya Punia, Soni Yadav, and Ayushi Soni are also expected to feature in the marquee state T20 tournament.