The Delhi Premier League (DPL), which is the Delhi’s first ever T20 league is likely to have international stars like Rishabh Pant and Ishant Sharma in action when it commences on August 17 with six men’s teams and four women’s teams.
DDCA disclosed the league on Tuesday with Virender Sehwag, former India opener as its ambassador, and also conducted draft for the same.
Purani Delhi 6 signed Pant and Ishant. In addition, Harshit Rana, who is currently accompanying the Indian team in Sri Lanka has been signed by North Delhi Strikers. However, these India players have been picked considering their availability. “Their final availability will depend on whether they’ve committed themselves to playing for India. Nevertheless, for now he has agreed to be placed in the draft,” DDCA president Rohan Jaitley said at the event.
DPL joins other state T20 leagues that have also come up. According to Sehwag, such platforms are important for improving young players. “When we were young all our thoughts were about playing for India or representing Delhi. Now days there are youngsters who want to play T20’s only. These leagues will help them get noticed”, stated Sehwag.
Despite this DPL Sehwag felt that shorter formats will not deter younger generation from longer versions of cricket. “This DPL will help you get noticed but if you want to grow as a cricketer you need to play four-day cricket too. Just as IPL is a feeder selection process into the Indian team so too should DPL be used by selectors choosing Delhi players,” added Sehwag.
Furthermore, Jaitley stated that DDCA would continue focusing on making sure that it maintains a good long format team for Delhi. Also mentioning that BCCI allows this league because they carried out thorough checks and there would be no tolerance towards any corrupt activities during the league.
