Tejasvi celebrates after a stunning run chase against Outer Delhi Warriors in the DPL last week.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
If the opening edition of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) paved the way for the likes of Priyansh Arya, Digvesh Rathi and Vansh Bedi to be picked by IPL franchises, the second season is propelling Tejasvi Dahiya into the spotlight as a wicketkeeper-batter of promise.
Tejasvi, a 23-year-old who trains under renowned coach Sanjay Bhardwaj, is among the tournament’s top ten run-getters with 197 in six matches at a strike rate of 172.81. In successive run chases last week for South Delhi Superstarz, the middle-order batter demonstrated serious six-hitting prowess as well as the ability to handle the pressure of a climbing asking rate.
He was particularly impressive against Outer Delhi Warriors on August 15. Having entered at 23 for three while pursuing 140 in a rain-curtailed 16 overs-per-side clash, he responded in stirring fashion with an unbeaten 70 off 33 balls. That five of his six sixes came in the final two overs when 34 runs were still required with three wickets in hand was a testament to his temperament.
“When I started playing, my role model was Virender Sehwag. I was a naturally aggressive batter as a result. Then when I started wicketkeeping, I preferred watching M.S. Dhoni. From him, I learnt that I need to stay aggressive but also take calculated risks,” he said in a media interaction on Tuesday.
On debut for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy – the domestic 50-over event – last year, he cracked a 78-ball 114 against Tripura in Hyderabad.
He caught the eye of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s scouts before this year’s IPL, and is set to attend Chennai Super Kings’ trials later this year. “In the SRH trials, I hit five sixes in an over. My name came up in the accelerated auction, but unfortunately I wasn’t picked.”
If he continues in the same vein in the DPL, a chance in the big league may not be far away.
Published – August 20, 2025 05:21 pm IST
