PThe Delhi Premier League (DPL) got its second season underway on Saturday with a colourful launch ceremony at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi. Organised by the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), the franchise-based T20 tournament promises bigger action this time with added teams and a women’s edition.
Grand Opening at Arun Jaitley Stadium
The opening night featured lively performances by music artists like Seedhe Maut, KRSNA, Raftaar, and Sunanda Sharma. The event was attended by key political and cricketing figures, including Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, former Union Minister Smriti Irani, and DDCA President Rohan Jaitley.
DDCA officials, including vice-president Shikha Kumar and secretary Ashok Sharma, were also present along with other governing members.
Leaders Show Support
Speaking on the occasion, Rohan Jaitley reflected on the league’s journey. “After a successful first year, we’ve added two more men’s teams and launched a women’s edition with four squads. This is a big step toward giving Delhi’s players the stage they deserve,” he said.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta praised the initiative, calling it “a proud moment for Delhi’s youth.” She said the league had already helped many local talents find their way into domestic and international cricket and added, “May this season continue to inspire and entertain.”
Riders Dominate Opening Match
On the field, defending champions East Delhi Riders made a solid start. After choosing to bowl first, they kept South Delhi Superstarz in check, restricting them to 60/4 halfway into the innings.
Sarthak Ray anchored the Superstarz with an unbeaten 41 off 36 balls. Ayush Badoni looked promising but was dismissed by Akhil Chaudhary before the powerplay. Abhishek Khandelwal (40) added late runs to help South Delhi post a respectable 169/6.
For the Riders, Ajay Ahlawat and Ashish Meena took two wickets each, putting their team in a strong position early in the tournament.
Discussion about this post