On Tuesday, Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) unveiled the league with former India opener Virender Sehwag as the ambassador and also conducted the draft.
Pant and Ishant have been picked up by Purani Delhi 6. Harshit Rana, who is travelling with the Indian team in Sri Lanka, has been picked up by North Delhi Strikers. These India players, however, have been picked subject to their availability. “The India players’ eventual availability will depend on their commitments to the national team. However, Rishabh has given his consent to be placed in the draft for now,” DDCA president Rohan Jaitley said at the event.
The DPL is the latest state T20 league to join the bandwagon. Sehwag reckoned such platforms are needed for young players’ development. “In our younger days, we used to only think of playing for India or Delhi. Now, the young generation wants to play T20. These leagues will help them get noticed,” Sehwag said.
Sehwag, however, felt that the younger generation will not give up on longer formats. “This DPL will help you get noticed. But to grow as a player, you will have to play four-day cricket. Like IPL is a basis for selection for Indian team, DPL will also do the same for Delhi team,” Sehwag added.
Jaitley also assured that the main focus of DDCA will remain Delhi’s long-format team. He also mentioned that the league has been cleared by BCCI after thorough checks and there will be a zero tolerance policy towards any corrupt activities.