In frame: Delhi Premier League trophy; LSG player Digvesh Rathi (Source: DPL & AFP)Delhi’s very own T20 tournament, the Delhi Premier League (DPL) , is back with its third edition. Beginning on July 31, DPL 2026 is set to be its biggest season ever. Notably, state T20 leagues like the DPL play a crucial role in identifying players for the Indian Premier League (IPL) by offering high-pressure televised exposure, direct franchise scouting, and competitive metrics evaluation.For the unversed, many IPL franchises deploy talent scouts to track standout performers.Consistent performances, high strike rates, or clutch bowling spells in state leagues immediately put uncapped local players on the shortlist for the annual IPL mega or mini-auctions.Since the emergence of these state T20 leagues, many young talents have gone on to secure themselves an IPL contract on the back of commendable performances.Priyansh Arya's DPL consitency rewarded with repeat IPL contract There is no bigger advertisement for the DPL than Priyansh Arya’s soaring success. The opening batter’s 608 runs in 10 innings for South Delhi Superstarz, including six sixes in an over, acted as the springboard for Punjab Kings to shell out ₹3.8 crore in the IPL auction for his services.The southpaw delivered a high return on investment in his maiden IPL season, scoring 475 runs in Punjab’s runner-up finish.Also read: Players To Watch Out For In DPL 2026However, someone like Priyansh is still in talks because of his ability to emulate his DPL exploits on a bigger stage like the IPL, and he didn’t remain just a one-season wonder. On the same lines, in this article, let’s take a look at 5 players who need to prove their mettle once again in the DPL 2026 to be able to retain their IPL contracts ahead of the 2027 auction.1) Digvesh Rathi- Lucknow Super GiantsDigvesh Rathi, known for his "notebook" send-off, had a breakout debut season for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2025, finishing as their leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets in 13 matches at an economy rate of 8.25.Rathi received massive viral attention for his aggressive “notebook” celebration, which resulted in fines on three separate occasions and a one-match suspension.For his impressive debut season, the Delhi spinner was retained by LSG for ₹30.00 Lakh ahead of the 2026 IPL season.However, fortune turned against him, as he suffered a noticeable dip in form. Rathi had a very tough second season for the Giants. Playing 10 matches, he managed only 5 wickets at an economy rate of 10.18.The controversial bowler seemed to have lost his mojo, as his IPL team became the first team to be eliminated from the tournament.LSG’s Rishabh Pant trade showcases the team’s clear-cut strategy of a core reset. Thus, Rathi, who has been out of form for some time now, could be let go if he fails to put his best foot forward in the third edition of the Delhi T20 league.2) Sarthak Ranjan- Kolkata Knight RidersKolkata Knight Riders added 13 new players to their squad at the IPL 2026 mini-auction. Among the 13 names, one was Sarthak Ranjan, acquired for Rs 30 lakh.Notably, Sarthak has played five T20s at the domestic level. However, his stats are far from impressive in those games. He has only managed to amass 66 runs at a strike rate of 126.92.Thus, his selection in the IPL was clearly based on his exploits in the DPL 2025 for North Delhi Strikers, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer with 449 runs and a magnificent century.However, the right-handed top-order batter didn’t get the opportunity to make his IPL debut.For Sarthak, the upcoming DPL season is crucial if he wants to retain his IPL contract with the three-time champions.3) Himmat Singh- Lucknow Super GiantsSingh had an impressive run in the Delhi Premier League 2024, where he notched up 381 runs in 10 innings, just behind Priyansh Arya and Ayush Badoni on the run-scoring charts. That success paved the way for his IPL return after a five-year gap, having earlier been part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2019.During the 2025 season, he made his much-awaited IPL debut for Lucknow Super Giants against Gujarat Titans and was retained for the next season.In the following edition, Himmat, after missing out on initial matches, eventually got the opportunity to play 5 matches, in which he scored 92 runs.On May 4, 2026, against Mumbai Indians, he played a crucial, steady knock scoring an unbeaten 40 off 31 balls, sharing an unbroken 68*-run partnership with Aiden Markram to provide strong finishing touches.After finishing at the bottom of the table in the 2026 edition, LSG is transforming its core unit. Hence, if Himmat wishes to remain in consideration, he must finish DPL 2026 as one of the best performers of the season.4) Anuj Rawat- Gujarat TitansThe wicket-keeper batter from Delhi has been in the IPL circuit for a long time now. However, since 2021, he has not been able to earn the trust of the management to get a consistent run for any of his two IPL teams, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans.Notably, his current IPL team, the Titans, already have three quality wicketkeepers apart from him, namely Jos Buttler, Tom Banton, and Kumar Kushagra.Thus, if he fails to impress in the upcoming DPL season, GT may look to let him go.5) Mayank Rawat- Mumbai Indians In the DPL 2024 final, played between East Delhi Riders and South Delhi Superstarz, Mayank Rawat hit five sixes in the last over of the Riders’ innings against Ayush Badoni and helped his team’s score reach 183-5 from 153-5.Mayank’s innings of 78 not out from 39 balls, with a flurry of massive sixes, was the the turning point in the game. Initially reeling behind, East Delhi Riders went on to clinch the title in the inaugural edition of the league.Thanks to his hard-hitting abilities, Mayank was acquired by the five-time IPL winners, Mumbai Indians, for a base price of ₹30 lakh in the 2026 auction. However, despite being drafted into the playing 11 for the match against Punjab Kings, the Delhi batter didn’t make his IPL debut.Nonetheless, sharing a dressing room with players like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah is, anyway, equivalent to attending the biggest learning lesson for any cricketer.Thus, if he wants to remain in the MI squad, Mayank has to put on his best show, if not, there is a high chance he may be released.Also read: Ben Stokes To Play First League After International Retirement
