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CDK vs PD Fantasy Team picks will be in focus as Central Delhi Kings face Purani Dilli 6 in the opening match of the Delhi Premier League 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday, 31 July. Yash Dhull, the 2022 Under-19 World Cup-winning captain, leads a Central Delhi Kings side that reached last season’s final, while Anuj Rawat takes charge of Purani Dilli 6 with the task of turning things around after the team finished bottom of the table in 2025. Ahead of the season opener, a pre-match opening ceremony featuring performances by Sunanda Sharma and Sukhbir Singh is scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM IST.
CDK vs PD Match Details
Match: Central Delhi Kings vs Purani Dilli 6, 1st T20, Delhi Premier League 2026
Date: Friday, 31 July 2026
Time: 9:00 PM IST
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
On-field Umpires: Ankur Julka and Gayathri Venugopalan
Third Umpire: Vikas Dalal
Match Referee: Yet to be announced
Recent Form
Central Delhi Kings finished as runners up in DPL 2025, losing the final to West Delhi Lions after posting 173/7 in their 20 overs. Purani Dilli 6 had a difficult campaign and finished bottom of the points table in the same season, a result owner Aakash Nangia has openly acknowledged while backing this year’s squad to do better. Neither side has played a competitive match yet in this DPL 2026 season, so this opener is the first read on both teams’ form.
Points Table
The DPL 2026 points table has not opened yet since this is the tournament’s first match. Both Central Delhi Kings and Purani Dilli 6 sit on zero points, zero matches played, ahead of the opener.
CDK vs PD Head to Head Record
Central Delhi Kings lead the head to head 2-1 from the last three meetings between these sides. In their most recent meeting, the 35th match of DPL 2025, Central Delhi Kings posted 197/5 and won by the DLS method after Purani Dilli 6 were bowled out for 69 in a rain hit chase. Purani Dilli 6’s one win in the head to head came in DPL 2024, chasing down 141 with plenty of overs to spare. Central Delhi Kings also won the corresponding DPL 2024 fixture, posting 217/7 and bowling Purani Dilli 6 out for 108.
Squads
Central Delhi Kings: Yash Dhull continues as captain after leading the side to last season’s final. Vansh Bedi, who secured one of the tournament’s highest Category A bids at this year’s auction, keeps wicket. The squad list per Crex: Yash Dhull (c), Vansh Bedi (wk), Aayush Kumar, Yatish Singh, Yugal Saini, Aditya Bhandari, Samarth Singh, Jonty Sidhu, Siddharth Joon, Keshav Dabas, Tejas Baroka, Vedant Sehwag, Aatrey Tripathi, Arun Pundir, Aryaveer Kohli, Kuldip Yadav, Divij Mehra, Money Grewal, Gavnish Khurana. This list may not be the complete roster, since other sources list a few additional squad names not shown on Crex’s match page.
Purani Dilli 6: Anuj Rawat was named captain on 28 July, days ahead of the opener. Lalit Yadav joins the squad as a direct replacement for Rishabh Pant, who is expected to miss the tournament due to international commitments. Confirmed 25 player squad, corroborated across multiple independent reports: Lalit Yadav, Udhav Mohan, Rajneesh Dadar, Rohan Rana, Aryan Gaur, Vanam Aggarwal, Ajay Ahlawat, Kush Nagpal, Digvesh Rathi, Yug Gupta, Kabir Sachdeva, Gaurav Saroha, Dev Lakra, Anuj Rawat (c), Samarth Seth, Mohak Kumar, Yash Kumar, Pankaj Jaswal, Harshvardhan Phogat, Arjun Rexwal, Lakshay Verma, Prince Mishra, Ashwini Chillar, Aditya Verma, Aditya Malhotra.
Pitch Report
Arun Jaitley Stadium has hosted plenty of DPL cricket across the last two seasons, and the numbers lean toward pace. Across the last 10 matches at this venue, pace bowlers have taken 68 wickets against 31 for spin, a split of roughly 69 to 31 in favour of seam. Scores in the 170s to 190s have been common on this ground, and recent matches here have mostly gone to the team batting first, though successful chases do happen when the target sits under 150. Expect the new ball to offer something for the quicks with the surface opening up for stroke play through the middle overs.
Weather Report
Friday, 31 July in Delhi is forecast for a high near 93°F (34°C) and a low around 84°F (29°C), with roughly a 35 percent chance of rain. This is peak monsoon season in Delhi, so an evening shower delaying the start or interrupting play cannot be ruled out, but current conditions point to a mostly dry night with high humidity.
Probable Playing XIs
Central Delhi Kings (Probable): Yash Dhull (c), Vansh Bedi (wk), Aayush Kumar, Yatish Singh, Yugal Saini, Jonty Sidhu, Keshav Dabas, Tejas Baroka, Vedant Sehwag, Kuldip Yadav, Money Grewal.
Purani Dilli 6 (Probable): Anuj Rawat (c, wk), Lalit Yadav, Udhav Mohan, Dev Lakra, Samarth Seth, Rajneesh Dadar, Digvesh Rathi, Pankaj Jaswal, Yug Gupta, Kush Nagpal, Mohak Kumar.
Both XIs are best estimates built from the confirmed squads and should be treated as provisional until toss.
Key Player Battles
Vansh Bedi vs Digvesh Rathi: Bedi arrives as one of this year’s headline auction buys, and Rathi’s wrist spin variations will test how he handles the ball turning away early in his innings.
Yash Dhull vs Udhav Mohan: Dhull’s calm top order game against Mohan’s raw pace, fresh off winning the Under 19 World Cup with India, is a fair litmus test for both players early in the season.
Anuj Rawat vs Kuldip Yadav: Rawat’s first assignment as captain includes facing Central Delhi Kings’ left arm spin option in the middle overs, a phase that often decides these Delhi derbies.
CDK vs PD Fantasy Team: Small League
Wicketkeepers: Anuj Rawat (VC), Vansh Bedi,
Batters: Yash Dhull (C), Dev Lakra,
All-rounders: Aayush Kumar, Lalit Yadav,
Bowlers: Kuldip Yadav, Digvesh Rathi, Rajneesh Dadar, Udhav Mohan, Yugal Saini,
Dhull gets the captaincy as the more experienced leader coming off a final appearance last season, while Rawat takes the vice captaincy given his keeper batter role and the extra scoring opportunities that come with it. The rest of the side balances both top orders with the two most proven bowling options, Rathi and Kuldip Yadav.
CDK vs PD Fantasy Team: Grand League
Wicketkeepers: Anuj Rawat, Vansh Bedi (C),
Batters: Yash Dhull, Jonty Sidhu,Samarth Seth,
All-rounders: Keshav Dabas, Money Grewal,
Bowlers: Digvesh Rathi (VC), Yug Gupta, Udhav Mohan, Pankaj Jaswal,
For a grand league differential angle, Bedi gets the captaincy on the back of his big money auction billing without the ownership a settled name like Dhull will draw. Rathi’s wrist spin makes him a differential vice captain pick if the pitch offers any early turn. Money Grewal and Pankaj Jaswal round out the side as lower owned bowling options who could pay off if either new ball attack finds early movement.
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Match Prediction
Central Delhi Kings go into this one with the better recent record, a settled captain, and the head to head edge over the last three meetings. Purani Dilli 6 have a stronger looking squad on paper than last season, with Lalit Yadav’s addition a clear upgrade, but a new captain taking charge for the first time works against them in an opener. Central Delhi Kings are the pick to start their campaign with a win, though a low scoring upset cannot be ruled out if the pitch offers early help to the seamers.
FAQs
Q. Who will win the CDK vs PD 1st T20 today?
A. Central Delhi Kings go in as favourites on the back of last season’s final appearance and a 2-1 head to head lead, though Purani Dilli 6 have strengthened their squad for this campaign.
Q. What is the CDK vs PD Fantasy prediction for the 1st T20?
A. Yash Dhull and Vansh Bedi are the top captaincy picks for Central Delhi Kings, with Anuj Rawat and Digvesh Rathi standing out as the key picks from Purani Dilli 6.
Q. What is the pitch report for Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi?
A. The ground has leaned pace friendly over the last 10 matches, with seamers taking roughly 69 percent of the wickets. Scores in the 170s to 190s have been common, with the new ball offering something for the quicks.
Q. What is the probable Playing XI for CDK vs PD 1st T20?
A. Both XIs are provisional. Central Delhi Kings are expected to be led by Yash Dhull and Vansh Bedi, while Purani Dilli 6 should field Anuj Rawat alongside new signings Lalit Yadav and Udhav Mohan, with confirmation expected closer to toss.
Q. Is there a rain threat for the CDK vs PD match?
A. There is a moderate chance, with forecasts showing around a 35 percent chance of rain in Delhi on 31 July. It is peak monsoon season, so an evening shower cannot be ruled out, though current conditions point to a mostly dry night.