The Delhi Premier League (DPL) Season 3 will run from 31 July to 30 August 2026, the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) confirmed on Tuesday, 23 June. The player auction, a marquee event in itself, is scheduled for 1 July, when eight men's franchises and four women's franchises will build their squads for the month-long tournament.

Key Dates and Format

The Season 3 auction on 1 July will precede a competition featuring 8 men's teams and 4 women's teams, with all matches played across 31 days between late July and the end of August. The format mirrors the franchise-based structure that has defined the DPL since its inception, blending established India internationals with emerging Delhi talent.

Star-Studded Player Pool

Several high-profile India internationals and IPL regulars are expected to feature, including Rishabh Pant, Ishant Sharma, Nitish Rana, Harshit Rana, Navdeep Saini, Ayush Badoni, Anuj Rawat, Priyansh Arya, Suyash Sharma, Digvesh Rathi, Yash Dhull, and Simarjeet Singh, among others. The women's competition is set to feature Shweta Sehrawat, Priya Punia, Soni Yadav, and Ayushi Soni, alongside emerging talents such as Tanisha Singh, Nazma, Monika, and Purva Siwach.

Season 2 Champions and Context

The previous edition saw West Delhi Lions, captained by Nitish Rana, claim their maiden DPL title, defeating Central Delhi Kings by six wickets in the final. In the women's draw, South Delhi Superstarz, led by Shweta Sehrawat, beat Central Delhi Queens to lift the trophy. Now in its third year, the DPL has positioned itself as one of Delhi's most significant domestic platforms — a proving ground that has fed talent into higher levels of the game.

What DDCA Officials Said

DDCA president Rohan Jaitley said, 'Year on year, the Delhi Premier League has continued to get better, and the quality of cricket on display has reflected the depth of talent that exists in Delhi. We have seen several cricketers perform strongly in the DPL and go on to represent teams at the highest levels of the game.'

DDCA vice-president Shikha Kumar highlighted the women's competition, saying, 'Particularly encouraging has been the response to the women's competition, which has played an important role in creating opportunities and enhancing visibility for Delhi's women cricketers.'

DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma added, 'The player auction is always an exciting stage of the tournament as teams begin building their squads and strategies for the season ahead.'

Participating Teams

Men's teams: Central Delhi Kings, East Delhi Riders, New Delhi Tigers, North Delhi Strikers, Outer Delhi Warriors, Purani Dilli 6, South Delhi Superstarz, West Delhi Lions.

Women's teams: Central Delhi Kings Women, East Delhi Riders Women, North Delhi Strikers Women, South Delhi Superstarz Women.

With the auction a week away and a roster of IPL-calibre names in the pool, Season 3 is shaping up as the DPL's most competitive edition yet.