The most expensive player in the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025 auction was Simarjeet Singh, who fetched a record ₹39 lakh. He was snapped up by Central Delhi Kings after a fierce bidding war, making him the costliest player of the season
Following him closely were:
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Digvesh Rathi — acquired by South Delhi Superstarz for ₹38 lakh
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Nitish Rana — picked by West Delhi Lions at ₹34 lakh
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Prince Yadav — joined New Delhi Tigers for ₹33 lakh
Last year’s purple cap winner Simarjeet Singh becomes the most expensive player (39 L) of the Delhi Premier League 🧡pic.twitter.com/h4SqnZG4GE
— Sunrisers Army (@srhorangearmy) July 8, 2025
Top 4 Most Expensive Buys – Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025
| Player | Team | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Simarjeet Singh | Central Delhi Kings | ₹39 lakh |
| Digvesh Rathi | South Delhi Superstarz | ₹38 lakh |
| Nitish Rana | West Delhi Lions | ₹34 lakh |
| Prince Yadav | New Delhi Tigers | ₹33 lakh |
Origin & Inauguration (2024)
- Launched by the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) in July 2024 as a franchise-owned T20 league
- Franchise Auction: Six men’s teams were sold for a combined ₹49.65 crore—top four buyers also secured women’s teams, reinforcing a gender-inclusive approach
- Tournament Structure: Featured 40 matches (33 men’s, 7 women’s) played as double-headers at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi
- Branding & Ambience: Celebrity-filled opening ceremony with performances by Badshah and Sonam Bajwa. Virender Sehwag appointed brand ambassador, Rishabh Pant led Purani Dilli 6
Inaugural Season Highlights (2024)
- Champion: East Delhi Riders triumphed in a dramatic final, edging South Delhi Superstarz by 3 runs
- Records & Stars:
- Priyansh Arya (SDS) hit the league’s first century—an unbeaten 107 off 55 balls
- Simardeep Singh (EDR) finished as the leading wicket-taker
- Talent Spotlight: Season earned acclaim as a springboard to IPL, with local stars like Rishabh Pant, Ishant Sharma, Harshit Rana, Ayush Badoni, and Digvesh Rathi drawing attention
Expansion & Second Season (2025)
- Teams Expanded: Two new franchises—Outer Delhi Warriors and New Delhi Tigers—joined, increasing the league to eight men’s teams. Women’s league remained at four teams
- Auction Evolution: Held July 2025, with players categorised into A (experienced), B (U-23/19), and C (U-16). Teams could retain one core player pre-auction
- Venues & Format: Continued at Arun Jaitley Stadium, using a round-robin + playoff format