DPL 2026: Central Delhi Kings edge Purani Dilli 6 despite Anuj Rawat's ton in opener
New Delhi, August 1
The Delhi Premier League 2026 got off to a spectacular start at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, with fans witnessing an evening full of entertainment and thrilling cricket. The night began with electrifying performances by popular singers Sukhbir Singh and Sunanda Sharma, before Purani Dilli 6 captain Anuj Rawat stole the limelight with the first century of the season against Central Delhi Kings.
Asked to bat first, Purani Dilli 6 had a poor start as they slipped to 30/3 inside the first five overs. However, skipper Rawat and Dev Lakra came to the rescue with a brilliant 132-run partnership for the fourth wicket, turning the innings around.
Lakra played the perfect supporting role with a composed 53 off 37 balls, while Rawat led from the front with a sensational unbeaten 105 off just 59 deliveries, smashing 11 fours and five sixes. The left-hander reached his century in dramatic fashion after being dropped on 99, before completing the milestone on the very next ball. Their partnership helped Purani Dilli 6 recover brilliantly and post a competitive 202/4 in 20 overs.
In reply, Central Delhi Kings made a flying start as openers Yash Dhull and Siddharth Joon added 65 runs in just 4.5 overs. Purani Dilli 6 finally broke the stand when Rajneesh Dadar dismissed Joon for 23 off 14 balls, with Pankaj Jaswal taking the catch.
Dhull continued to dominate and stitched together another 32-run stand with Yugal Saini, who was run out for 22 off 16 balls. The Kings suffered another setback soon after as Jonty Sidhu departed for a duck, but Dhull kept the chase on track with an impressive half-century.
The Central Delhi skipper eventually fell for a superb 72 off 45 balls. Pankaj Jaswal surprised him with a short delivery, and Dhull's attempted upper cut found Rajneesh Dadar at short third man. Vansh Bedi played a quick cameo of 28 off 13 balls, but his dismissal left the Kings needing a strong finish.
With the pressure mounting, Keshav Dabas held his nerves and produced a crucial cameo. He struck two boundaries off the final two balls of the penultimate over to reduce the equation to just three runs from the last over. Jasvir Sehrawat then calmly hit the winning runs, guiding Central Delhi Kings to a thrilling four-wicket victory and handing them a winning start to the DPL 2026 campaign.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The atmosphere at Arun Jaitley Stadium must have been electric with Sukhbir and Sunanda performing before the match! DPL is really becoming a proper festival for Delhi cricket fans. Anuj Rawat's 105 off 59 was pure class but that drop on 99 cost Purani Dilli the match honestly. 😅
See, this is what happens when you drop catches in T20 cricket. That catch dropped on 99 turned the game around. Purani Dilli will be kicking themselves for that. But credit to Dabas and Sehrawat for holding their nerves at the end. Delhi ka cricket, dil se!
Anuj Rawat is such an underrated player. Hopefully IPL scouts were watching tonight. 202/4 was a solid score but 72 off 45 by Dhull was the match-winning knock. Young Indian talent is truly shining in these domestic leagues!
Honestly, the fielding from both teams was below par. So many dropped catches in such a crucial match. But that's what makes local tournaments so entertaining - you never know what's coming next. Also, great to see packed stadiums for DPL. Cricket culture in Delhi is unmatched! 🙌
That dropped catch on 99 will haunt Purani Dilli 6 for the rest of the tournament. But what a comeback from 30/3 to post 202! Rawat showed great captain's mentality. The last over drama was nerve-wracking - exactly why we love T20 cricket. Best league after IPL, no doubt!
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