Follow UsThe Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) has unveiled the former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag as the face of their upcoming T20 tournament — the Delhi Premier League (DPL). Sehwag, who played 251 ODIs, 19 T20Is and 104 Tests for India, will be the brand ambassador of the maiden season of DPL which is set to be played in the second half of August.
A franchise auction was held in New Delhi on Sunday (July 28) which saw prominent companies investing in six men’s and four women’s teams, investing closet to INR 50 crore.
"Rishabh Pant Navdeep Saini, Harshit Rana and other Indian players will feature in the inaugural season of DPL. I had a talk with Rishabh Pant and he has promised me to participate in the league but it only depends on his availability and national commitments. But as of now, he will be playing. Navdeep and Harshit will also feature in the league," said Rohan Jaitley, the DDCA chief and the tournament president, at the trophy inauguration ceremony on Friday (August 2).
Meanwhile, Sehwag mentioned it as an opportunity for youngsters, citing a case of the absence of such platforms during his younger days. "The league will surely be a fantastic opportunity to those players who work hard in the nets and didn't get a chance in any major tournament. When I used to play in my younger days we didn't get this type of opportunity to play in different leagues. Now my son is playing I am glad that he will be getting those opportunities, so yes it is a very great opportunity," Sehwag said.
The six franchises that will be part of the tournament are West Delhi Lions (Brew Force Limited), North Delhi Strikers (Gupta Jee tent Services Pvt. Ltd.), South Delhi Superstarz (Real Force Resources Pvt. Ltd.), Purani Delhi-6 (SISL Infotech Pvt. Ltd.), Delhi Kings, and East Delhi Riders (Areion Finserve Pvt. Ltd.).
The top four bidders in the men’s franchise auction also secured the women’s teams — South Delhi Superstars, Central Delhi Queens, North Delhi Strikers, and East Delhi Riders.
The first season of DPL will feature a total of 40 matches, with 33 games in the men's category and seven in the women's. All games will take place at the Arun Jaitley stadium.
The matches will broadcast and live-stream on Sports 18 and JioCinema respectively.
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