Dev Chaudhary: New Delhi Tigers batter whose DPL 2026 selection sparked criticism
Dev Chaudhary, a 22-year-old batter for the New Delhi Tigers, became the focus of criticism during the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2026 after videos of his unconventional batting and fielding circulated online. The scrutiny extended to questions about how he obtained a place in the Tigers’ playing XI.
The DPL was created as a platform for emerging cricketers from Delhi to play alongside established names, but Chaudhary’s emergence has shifted attention away from on-field action. Reports conflicted over how he was acquired for the tournament: some said he was not part of the DPL 2026 auction, while others reported the New Delhi Tigers bought him for INR 1 lakh. Publicly available information about his senior-level cricket history is scarce, which has fuelled debate on social media.
A DDCA Under-19 preliminary trial document from 2021 has been cited in reports as listing Chaudhary as an all-rounder, naming middle-order batting and right-arm seam bowling among his attributes. That listing is the most substantial pre-DPL record referenced in available reporting.
In the DPL Chaudhary was used as an opener despite the 2021 document referring to him as a middle-order batter. His first appearance, against South Delhi Superstarz, resulted in a two-ball duck. He returned in a match against the West Delhi Lions on August 19 and scored 16 runs from 24 balls, hitting three boundaries; across his first two DPL innings he scored 16 runs from 26 deliveries.
Those modest returns combined with footage of an unorthodox stance intensified online criticism of his selection. Clips of his batting technique circulated widely on social platforms and became a central element of the discussion.
A separate practice-drill video circulated online showed Chaudhary struggling to complete routine catches, prompting further scrutiny of his fielding. While some social-media users have labelled the situation a ‘fraud’, there is currently no confirmed evidence linking the player to any selection fraud.
The DPL’s inaugural edition was officially launched on August 17, 2024; no team has won the Delhi Premier League T20 more than once, with East Delhi Riders winning in 2024 and West Delhi Lions in 2025. The league was intended to showcase local talent from the capital.
Chaudhary was dropped for the third game of the tournament, and any official confirmation from the DDCA or the New Delhi Tigers is not available as of now.
