The second edition of the Delhi Premier League has thrown up a fascinating storyline with a high-profile Virat Kohli and Virender Sehwag connection, albeit in the most unexpected manner. This season will see Kohli’s nephew, Aryaveer Kohli, and Sehwag’s son, Aaryavir Sehwag, turning out for different franchises after being snapped up during Sunday’s auctions.
Aryaveer, a budding leg-spinner and son of Virat’s elder brother Vikas, was bought by the South Delhi Superstarz. The franchise already boasts one of the league’s costliest players, leggie Digvesh Rathi, who fetched Rs 38 lakh. Aryaveer now joins a spin-heavy setup that will look to leverage his skills through the tournament.
Meanwhile, Aaryavir, a right-handed batter in the U-19 circuit, finally found takers after going unsold in the previous edition. The Central Delhi Kings secured his services for Rs 8 lakh after a brief bidding tussle. The Kings were among the busiest at the auction, reinforcing their squad with some notable names. They splashed Rs 39 lakh on pacer Simarjeet Singh, the highest buy of the day, and also brought in former India U-19 captain Yash Dhull along with all-rounder Pranshu Vijayran. These additions complement their pre-auction retention of Jonty Sidhu, giving them a formidable core for the season ahead. Aaryavir’s signing came later, further deepening their batting options.
Elsewhere, East Delhi Riders made a statement by roping in Navdeep Saini. The experienced quick adds serious firepower to their pace arsenal. The Riders also smartly exercised their Right to Match card to retain promising youngster Mayank Rawat for Rs 26 lakh, signalling clear intent to back young talent. This comes on top of having already secured wicketkeeper-batter Anuj Rawat and opener Salil Malhotra, laying down a strong foundation for their campaign.
The auctions saw as many as 520 players go under the hammer, with other top buys including Nitish Rana, who was picked up by the West Delhi Lions for Rs 34 lakh, and Prince Yadav, who joined the New Delhi Tigers for Rs 33 lakh. As the league gears up for its new season, all eyes will be on how these young scions of Indian cricketing royalty, both Aryaveer and Aaryavir, carve out their own identities on the field.
(With PTI inputs)
