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Follow UsThe first edition of the Delhi Premier League T20 is all set to begin on August 17th 2024 at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. A total of 33 games will be played in the tournament with six teams participating in it. Like how local franchise T20 tournaments have given quality talent to state teams like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and others, DDCA are also hoping to see DPL T20 present new quality talent who can be fast tracked to the Delhi state team.
The tournament has a list of big names participating with Rishabh Pant and Ishant Sharma being the most recognizable faces in the tournament. Harshit Rana, who had a breakout IPL season, also will be in the limelight during the tournament. A few players like Anuj Rawat, Ayush Badoni, Suyash Sharma, who have been a part of recent IPL editions, are also set to take part in this competition.
Can these youngsters live up to their potential?
Yash Dhull – Central Delhi Kings
Yash Dhull has seen a huge growth in his career in the last couple of years. His successful performance as captain in the 2022 U19 World Cup resulted in India winning the trophy. Since then, he debuted for Delhi, scored a hundred in his first innings and briefly became the captain of the state team as well. He also has been a part of the Delhi Capitals team in the last two seasons of the IPL.
Leading the Central Delhi Kings, Dhull will be expected to step up and deliver both as captain and a top order batter. The right-hand top order batter has averaged 57.2 and has scored 572 runs in 15 games for Delhi in the last two editions of Syed Mushtaq Ali T20. He will be expected to score similarly in DPL T20 as well.
Anuj Rawat – East Delhi Riders
Anuj Rawat has had a disappointing time in T20s over the last two years. He has not lived up to RCB’s expectations in the IPL, scoring just 318 runs in 20 innings while averaging 21.2. For the Delhi team as well, he has averaged just 20.0, scoring 240 runs in 12 innings. DPL T20 is going to be a golden opportunity for the southpaw to get some runs under his belt.
Ayush Badoni – South Delhi Superstars
Ayush Badoni came to the limelight with an excellent fifty for LSG in his IPL debut game in 2022. Post that, however, notable knocks from the bat of the youngster in the IPL have been few and far between. He did, however, have a very good SMAT 2023, scoring 210 runs in seven games while getting dismissed only once. He has to showcase similar consistency in order to find success with the South Delhi Superstars.
Suyash Sharma – North Delhi Strikers
Suyash Sharma, too, like Badoni, made himself famous with an outstanding debut season in the IPL, for KKR in 2023. He picked up 10 wickets in 11 games and lived up to his position as an impact player. Post this, he debuted for Delhi in SMAT 2023 and finished the season as the joint second-highest wicket taker with 18 wickets in seven games at a ridiculous economy rate of 4.6.
His 2024 has not been impressive, however, as he played only two games for KKR in their season winning campaign in IPL 2024 where he went for a whopping 51 runs in the four overs that he bowled. With the domestic season on the verge of starting, it is going to be important for the leggie to get back in good rhythm. DPL T20 will provide a great opportunity for him to get back in form.
Other faces in the spotlight
Himmat Singh – East Delhi Riders
Himmat Singh has been a staple player for the Delhi domestic team across formats since 2018. The right hand middle-order batter has scored over 700 runs in T20s for Delhi. His recent seasons in SMAT have been terrible, however, as he managed just 130 runs across eight games and 66 runs across seven games in the 2022 and 2023 edition of Syed Mushtaq Ali T20. But the 27-year-old's experience is going to be a key middle-order batter for the East Delhi Riders in the upcoming season of DPL T20.
Vaibhav Kandpal – North Delhi Strikers
Vaibhav Kandpal has been one of the emerging players in the U23 category for Delhi. He had a good season in Col CK Nayudu Trophy, the U23 first class tournament where he scored 336 runs in five games. He even debuted for the Delhi state team in 2022 SMAT and was left out after one game. He will be hoping to perform well in the DPL T20 and get a call back once again for the domestic team.
Mayank Rawat – East Delhi Riders
Mayank Rawat has been one of the exciting talents in local cricket for Delhi in recent times. The all-rounder did well in Col CK Nayudu Trophy 2023 as he stepped up with both bat and ball, scoring 372 runs and picking up 19 wickets in six games. He will be hoping on playing a similar role in DPL T20.
Ayush Doseja – West Delhi Lions
Ayush Doseja has had a good year in 2024 so far. He did extremely well in Col CK Nayudu Trophy 2024, scoring 337 runs in 7 games as the captain of the side. The left-handed middle order batter will be hoping to bring in the good form into the T20 format at DPL T20.
Arpit Rana – Purani Dilli 6
Arpit Rana has been doing well in the domestic circuit for Delhi in the U23 category. The southpaw (opening batter) played four games in Col CK Nayudu Trophy 2024 and scored 336 runs at an average of 56. He will be hoping to make a fine first impression.
Money Grewal – Central Delhi Kings
Money Grewal is one of the most talented pacers that has emerged for Delhi in recent times. He has done well at the U23 level, picking 22 wickets in just seven innings in Col CK Nayudu Trophy 2024. The right-arm pacer is going to be a key bowler for the Kings along with Lakshay Sherawat.
Yug Gupta – Purani Dilli 6
Yug Gupta has been doing well in the U19 circuit for the Delhi team. He was a vital player in Vinoo Mankad Trophy 2023 as he was Delhi's highest wicket taker, picking up 11 wickets in just four games at an average of 9.45. He is also someone capable of chipping in with handy runs with the bat.
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