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Shikhar Dhawan, the former Indian opener and current IPL captain of Punjab Kings, has made a significant investment in the Delhi Premier League (DPL) as an owner of one of the participating teams. According to sources, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), under the leadership of its president Rohan Jaitley, recently held an auction for six teams in the DPL. It is also learnt that DDCA will make an announcement later this week. “Shikar is a co-owner of one of the teams,” a top BCCI official told CricBlogger.
None of the DDCA officials was available for comment.
In another significant development, it has been announced that four of these teams will also compete in the women’s leg of the league, highlighting the DPL’s commitment to promoting women’s cricket alongside the men’s competition. This dual participation underscores the league’s broader vision of fostering talent and providing opportunities across both genders.
The auction featured a base price of Rs 8 crore per team, and a total of approximately Rs 49.65 crore was raised from the sale of six teams to various stakeholders. The league is so good that Shikhar’s team emerged as the highest bidder, with an investment nearing Rs 9 crore, making it the most expensive team in the state league’s history.
This marks a significant milestone for T20 cricket in India, as the DPL becomes the first state-level T20 league in the country where teams have been sold at such a premium.
Indeed, the DPL has set a new benchmark in the world of state-level T20 cricket leagues. While most state league teams generally cost under Rs 5 crore, the DPL has achieved a remarkable feat with its high-value team sales. In contrast, several other state leagues have struggled to reach even Rs 8 crore in total revenue from the sale of all their teams.
The significant investment in the DPL, with individual teams fetching up to Rs 9 crore, reflects the league’s ambitious scale and the high level of interest it has generated. This development not only elevates the status of the DPL but also emphasizes the growing commercial potential of state-level T20 cricket in India.
Meanwhile, Dhawan has committed to the league because of its potential, bringing with him not only his cricketing expertise but also his experience in managing business ventures. Dhawan, known for his successful cricket career, also runs a charity and has demonstrated a keen acumen for managing cricket-related businesses. His involvement adds significant value to the DPL, both in terms of credibility and commercial potential, making him a noteworthy addition to the league, which is already looking promising!
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