Tejasvi Dahiya tops DPL Season 3 men's auction at ₹40 lakh in New Delhi
Synopsis
Tejasvi Dahiya walked away as DPL Season 3's most expensive men's buy at ₹40 lakh, with South Delhi Superstarz pulling the RTM trigger to keep him. Three RTM cards were deployed in the Marquee round alone — a sign of just how fiercely franchises are protecting their core assets heading into what looks like the league's most competitive season yet.
Key Takeaways
Tejasvi Dahiya was the costliest player in the DPL Season 3 men's auction, sold to South Delhi Superstarz for ₹40 lakh via RTM on 1 July .
Himmat Singh fetched ₹38 lakh (New Delhi Tigers, RTM) and Anuj Rawat went for ₹27 lakh (Puraani Dilli 6).
Three franchises — South Delhi Superstarz , New Delhi Tigers , and North Delhi Strikers — invoked RTM cards in the Marquee round.
All 8 franchises completed squads of 23–26 players by the end of the auction.
Unsold Marquee players were moved to the Category A pool at a revised base price of ₹5 lakh .
Tejasvi Dahiya became the costliest player in the Delhi Premier League (DPL) Season 3 men's auction, fetching ₹40 lakh as South Delhi Superstarz invoked their Right to Match (RTM) card to retain him. The auction, held in New Delhi on Wednesday, 1 July, concluded with all eight franchises finalising squads of 23 to 26 players across multiple bidding rounds.
Marquee Round Highlights
The auction kicked off with the Marquee round, which saw eight prominent names go under the hammer. Dahiya's ₹40 lakh hammer price led the session, followed closely by Himmat Singh, whom New Delhi Tigers secured for ₹38 lakh via RTM. Anuj Rawat was the third-highest earner, going to Puraani Dilli 6 for ₹27 lakh in an open bid.
North Delhi Strikers used their RTM to match the ₹17 lakh bid for Sarthak Ranjan. The remaining four Marquee players — Kuldip Yadav (Central Delhi Kings), Suyash Sharma (West Delhi Lions), Navdeep Saini (Outer Delhi Warriors), and Simarjeet Singh (East Delhi Riders) — were each picked up at the base price of ₹10 lakh. Unsold Marquee players were subsequently moved into the Category A pool at a revised base price of ₹5 lakh.
Squad Compositions at a Glance
Central Delhi Kings anchor their campaign around Kuldip Yadav, Yash Dhull, and Vansh Bedi. East Delhi Riders will rely on Simarjeet Singh, Mayank Yadav, and Mayank Rawat, while New Delhi Tigers build around Himmat Singh and Prince Yadav.
North Delhi Strikers are anchored by Harshit Rana and Sarthak Ranjan. Outer Delhi Warriors lean on Navdeep Saini and Priyansh Arya, while Puraani Dilli 6 count on Anuj Rawat, Digvesh Rathi, and Lalit Yadav. South Delhi Superstarz pair Ayush Badoni with the tournament's priciest pick, Tejasvi Dahiya, and West Delhi Lions bank on Nitish Rana, Suyash Sharma, and Kulwant Khejroliya.
Full Marquee Round Log
Tejasvi Dahiya — ₹40 lakh — South Delhi Superstarz (RTM)
Himmat Singh — ₹38 lakh — New Delhi Tigers (RTM)
Anuj Rawat — ₹27 lakh — Puraani Dilli 6
Sarthak Ranjan — ₹17 lakh — North Delhi Strikers (RTM)
Kuldip Yadav — ₹10 lakh — Central Delhi Kings
Suyash Sharma — ₹10 lakh — West Delhi Lions
Navdeep Saini — ₹10 lakh — Outer Delhi Warriors
Simarjeet Singh — ₹10 lakh — East Delhi Riders
What's Next for DPL Season 3
With rosters locked, all eight sides will now turn their attention to squad integration — blending experienced Marquee signings with uncapped and emerging Delhi cricketers. The tournament is widely seen as a key pathway for young Delhi talent seeking exposure ahead of national selection cycles. The competitive depth across franchises, particularly in pace bowling, sets up what promises to be a closely contested season.
Point of View
Prioritising continuity over speculative bidding. Dahiya's ₹40 lakh valuation is notable for a domestic T20 league outside the IPL ecosystem, reflecting the growing commercial and scouting weight of the DPL. The real story, however, is the depth beyond the Marquee names: sides like East Delhi Riders, with Mayank Yadav on their books, could use this platform to showcase talent that is already on the national radar. Whether the league can convert that talent visibility into consistent viewership and sponsorship growth remains its defining challenge.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the most expensive player in the DPL Season 3 men's auction?
Tejasvi Dahiya was the costliest player in the DPL Season 3 men's auction, sold to South Delhi Superstarz for ₹40 lakh via a Right to Match (RTM) card on 1 July. He topped the Marquee round, which set the tone for the rest of the bidding.
Which players were sold in the DPL Season 3 Marquee round?
Eight players featured in the Marquee round: Tejasvi Dahiya (₹40 lakh, South Delhi Superstarz via RTM), Himmat Singh (₹38 lakh, New Delhi Tigers via RTM), Anuj Rawat (₹27 lakh, Puraani Dilli 6), Sarthak Ranjan (₹17 lakh, North Delhi Strikers via RTM), and Kuldip Yadav, Suyash Sharma, Navdeep Saini, and Simarjeet Singh — each at ₹10 lakh base price.
What is the Right to Match (RTM) card in DPL auctions?
An RTM card allows a franchise to match the highest bid for a player they previously held, effectively retaining him at the auction price. In DPL Season 3, three RTM cards were used in the Marquee round alone — by South Delhi Superstarz, New Delhi Tigers, and North Delhi Strikers.
How many players are in each DPL Season 3 squad?
Each of the eight franchises assembled squads of between 23 and 26 players by the close of the auction on 1 July. Squads combine retained Marquee names with players picked from Category A and subsequent pools.
Which key players anchor each DPL Season 3 franchise?
Central Delhi Kings rely on Kuldip Yadav, Yash Dhull, and Vansh Bedi; East Delhi Riders on Simarjeet Singh, Mayank Yadav, and Mayank Rawat; New Delhi Tigers on Himmat Singh and Prince Yadav; North Delhi Strikers on Harshit Rana and Sarthak Ranjan; Outer Delhi Warriors on Navdeep Saini and Priyansh Arya; Puraani Dilli 6 on Anuj Rawat, Digvesh Rathi, and Lalit Yadav; South Delhi Superstarz on Ayush Badoni and Tejasvi Dahiya; and West Delhi Lions on Nitish Rana, Suyash Sharma, and Kulwant Khejroliya.
