India’s Test vice-captain and star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has already returned to the headlines even before the start of the second Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test against England, starting on Wednesday, July 2, at the Edgbaston stadium in Birmingham.
Rishabh Pant turned heads by showing interest in playing in the Delhi Premier League (DPL) for the first time, and even the explosive wicketkeeper-batter listed himself for the DPL 2025 Auction, which is scheduled for July 6 and 7 in New Delhi.
Rishabh Pant set to take Delhi Premier League 2025 Auction on fire
After bagging a jaw-dropping ₹27 crore deal from Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2025 mega auction last year, Rishabh Pant has now entered the Delhi Premier League auction pool, setting the stage for a record-breaking bidding war among the eight teams.
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However, Rishabh Pant isn’t the only IPL star who is set to go under the hammer at the DPL 2025 auction. Nine other IPL stars, including Ishant Sharma, Ayush Badoni, Harshit Rana, Himmat Singh, Suyash Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Anuj Rawat, Priyansh Arya, and Digvesh Rathi, have also registered themselves for the Delhi Premier League.
Rishabh Pant’s presence alone has already created a massive buzz, and with several IPL breakout stars also in the mix, the two-day DPL 2025 auction is set to be one of the most exciting events in the tournament’s history. Notably, Rishabh Pant is currently on the England tour with Team India.
DPL becomes India’s richest T20 league After IPL
Meanwhile, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) on July 1 announced the addition of two new franchises, taking the total number of teams in the tournament to eight.
With the addition of the two new teams, the DPL has now become India’s richest domestic T20 league after the IPL, with total franchise sales reaching ₹69.5 crore.
The Outer Delhi franchise was bagged for ₹10.6 crore by Savita Paints Private Limited, while the New Delhi franchise went for ₹9.2 crore, purchased by a joint bid from Bheema Tolling and Traffic Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and Crayon Advertising Ltd.
These bids were finalized during a lively auction held at Feroze Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi, which highlighted how much excitement and commercial interest the DPL is generating despite being at the early stage.
The six existing teams are Central Delhi Kings, East Delhi Riders, North Delhi Strikers, Purani Dilli 6, South Delhi Superstarz, and West Delhi Lions.
Last year, six teams were sold for ₹49.6 crore. With the two new additions adding ₹19.8 crore more, the Delhi Premier League has now become India’s second biggest T20 league after IPL.
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Rohan Jaitley hails DPL as a breeding ground for future cricket stars
On the occasion, DPL and DDCA President Rohan Jaitley said that the DPL is a celebration of Delhi’s cricket culture and a platform. He added that the next season will be a bigger one.
Rohan Jaitley stated, “The Delhi Premier League is more than just a tournament—it is a celebration of the capital’s deep-rooted cricketing culture. The kind of talent we saw in Season 1 was truly promising, and with this expansion, we are giving even more players a stage to shine.
Talents like Priyansh Arya, Digvesh Rathi, and more emerged through DPL and showcased their brilliance during IPL 2025, proving the league’s value as a true breeding ground for future stars.
The auctions in July will set the tone for the season, and we are working to ensure the experience is seamless and impactful for franchises, players, and fans alike. We are committed to making Season 2 a landmark moment in the league’s journey.”
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