The Delhi Premier League (DPL) is returning for its second season, promising a more exciting edition than its debut. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fast bowler Simarjeet Singh became the most expensive player at the 2025 players’ auction, going for more than Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) spinner Digvesh Rathi.
The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) has announced the expansion of the Delhi Premier League from six to eight teams for the upcoming season. Two new franchises, Outer Delhi Warriors and New Delhi Tigers, have been added to the tournament.
They will join North Delhi Strikers, Central Delhi Kings, Purani Dilli, West Delhi Lions, East Delhi Riders, and South Delhi Superstarz for a more competitive and action-packed edition of the T20 league.
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Simarjeet Singh Overshadows Digvesh Rathi in DPL 2025 Auction
Simarjeet Singh attracted interest from multiple franchises, including South Delhi, North Delhi, and West Delhi Lions at the DPL 2025 Auction. The price reached ₹39 lakh before he was eventually picked up by Central Delhi Kings.
Digvesh Rathi, who had a base price of ₹10 lakh, also sparked a fierce bidding war between Purani Dilli and South Delhi Superstarz. Rathi was sold to South Delhi Superstarz for ₹38 lakh, making him one of the most expensive signings of the auction.
Simarjeet has picked up 11 wickets in 14 IPL matches at an average of 36.36 and an economy rate of 10.00. Meanwhile, Digvesh Rathi made his IPL debut for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025, taking 14 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 30.64 and an economy rate of 8.25.
Players Sold at DPL 2025:
| Category | S. No | Player | Franchise | Auction Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquee | 1 | Simarjeet Singh | Central Delhi Kings | ₹39 lakh |
| Marquee | 2 | Nitish Rana | West Delhi Lions | ₹34 lakh |
| Marquee | 3 | Suyash Sharma | Outer Delhi Warriors | ₹15 lakh |
| Marquee | 4 | Ishant Sharma | West Delhi Lions | ₹13 lakh |
| Marquee | 5 | Prince Yadav | New Delhi Tigers | ₹33 lakh |
| Marquee | 6 | Digvesh Rathi | South Delhi Superstarz | ₹38 lakh |
| Marquee | 7 | Yash Dhull | Central Delhi Kings | ₹15 lakh |
| Marquee | 8 | Lalit Yadav | Purani Dilli 6 | ₹10 lakh |
| Marquee | 9 | Navdeep Saini | East Delhi Riders | ₹10 lakh |
| Marquee | 10 | Kuldip Yadav | North Delhi Strikers | ₹10 lakh |
Rishabh Pant Among Retained Players for DPL 2025
Each franchise in the men’s Delhi DPL 2025 auction entered with a purse of ₹1.5 crore. The cost of retained players was deducted from this amount. Notably, franchises were allowed to use one Right-to-Match (RTM) card during the auction to retain a player who received bids from other teams.
The auction pool was divided into three categories based on player experience and age. Category A is reserved for senior players, including those with Indian Premier League (IPL) or state-level experience.
Category B consists of Under-23 and Under-19 cricketers, while Category C includes emerging talents under the age of 16. Only players registered with the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) were eligible to be part of the auction.
Among the notable retentions ahead of the season, East Delhi Riders retained Himmat Singh, their title-winning captain. Purani Dilli secured Team India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant as a retained player.
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