Overview
- The DPL held its men’s and women’s auctions on Wednesday and Thursday, July 1–2, 2026, using a 600-player pool and retention lists to complete all eight men’s and four women’s squads.
- Franchises were allowed one Right to Match card each and used them to secure high-priced players, with South Delhi Superstarz retaining Tejasvi Dahiya for ₹40 lakh and New Delhi Tigers retaining Himmat Singh for ₹38 lakh.
- The women’s auction showed sharp growth in franchise investment, led by left-arm spinner Parunika Sisodia bought by East Delhi Riders for ₹14 lakh and Arushi Goel for ₹11 lakh.
- DDCA president Rohan Jaitley confirmed Rishabh Pant withdrew from the auction because of India Test commitments, a development that highlights a calendar clash as the DPL is scheduled from July 31 to August 30, 2026.
- Each men’s franchise entered the auction with a ₹1.5 crore purse and each women’s franchise had ₹75 lakh, with final squads of 23–26 players and the league continuing to act as a pathway for domestic talent into the IPL.