DPL 2026: West Delhi Lions Begin Title Defence Against New Delhi Tigers in Match 3

Defending champions West Delhi Lions (WDL) will start their title defence against the New Delhi Tigers (NDT) in Match 3 of the Delhi Premier League 2026. The match is set to take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday, August 1, 2026, starting at 7:00 PM IST.

What Happened

The West Delhi Lions enter the 2026 season aiming to build on their championship run from 2025. Led by captain Nitish Rana, the Lions maintain an experienced core including Shubham Dubey, Kulwant Khejroliya, and leg-spinner Suyash Sharma. During the 2025 season, Nitish Rana scored 393 runs across 11 innings at an average of 65.50 and a strike rate of 181.94, which included the season’s highest individual score of 134 off 55 balls against South Delhi Superstarz.

The New Delhi Tigers, captained by Himmat Singh, missed out on qualification for the 2025 playoffs by a single point. In this opening fixture, the Tigers will be without fast bowler Prince Yadav, who suffered an injury during India’s tour of Zimbabwe. In head-to-head competition, the two teams have played once before on August 16, 2025, where West Delhi Lions secured the victory.

Key Highlights

• Match Details: Match 3 of DPL 2026 takes place on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at 7:00 PM IST at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi.
• Broadcast & Streaming: Broadcast available on JioStar Network Channels, with live streaming on the JioHotstar app and website, as well as the FanCode app and website.
• Venue & Pitch Report: Arun Jaitley Stadium offers a batting-friendly surface with consistent bounce, shorter boundaries, and a fast outfield. Dew is expected to have a profound effect during the evening match.
• Key Team News: New Delhi Tigers’ star seamer Prince Yadav is out due to an injury sustained on India’s tour of Zimbabwe.
• Predicted Playing XIs:
  West Delhi Lions: Nitish Rana (C), Hiten Dalal, Aaryavir Sehwag, Shubham Dubey, Vikas Rana, Krish Yadav (WK), Mayank Gusain, Suyash Sharma, Kulwant Khejroliya, Ravneet Tanwar, Anirudh Chowdhary.
  New Delhi Tigers: Himmat Singh (C), Vaibhav Rawal, Atulya Pandey, Manish Sehrawat, Parikshit Singh Bhati, Yashjeet, Hrithik Shokeen, Lakshay Thareja (WK), Rishabh Sharma, Pradyuman Sanan, Varun Vanjani.

Why This Matters

This fixture marks the start of West Delhi Lions’ title defence in the 2026 season. For the New Delhi Tigers, the match presents an opportunity to start strongly after falling just one point short of playoff qualification in 2025.

What to Watch Next

The match will commence at 7:00 PM IST on August 1, 2026, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, with live coverage on JioStar Network, JioHotstar, and FanCode.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where will the WDL vs NDT match be played?

The match takes place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at 7:00 PM IST.

How can viewers watch Match 3 of DPL 2026?

Viewers can watch the live broadcast on JioStar Network Channels or stream it via the JioHotstar and FanCode apps and websites.

Why is Prince Yadav missing from the New Delhi Tigers squad?

Prince Yadav is unavailable after sustaining an injury during India’s recent tour of Zimbabwe.

Source: CricTracker