New Delhi [India], April 3 (ANI): The Delhi Capitals on Friday announced the DC Global Academy Cup, an inter-academy T20 tournament aimed at bringing together emerging cricketing talent from across its global network.

The tournament will be held from April 2 to 9, 2026, with matches scheduled at the DC Ball Park Ground in Palam Vihar and the AB Rising Cricket Academy in Chhawla.

The week-long competition will feature seven academies, including international participation, competing across the U13 and U15 categories.

Designed as a structured competitive platform, the tournament will follow a T20 format, with each team guaranteed a minimum of 4-5 matches.

The initiative is aimed at providing young cricketers with consistent match exposure while introducing them to the standards and environment associated with the Delhi Capitals setup.

A key aspect of the DC Global Academy Cup is the opportunity for participating players to experience the broader Delhi Capitals ecosystem, including exposure to IPL match-day environments. The tournament will be conducted across professional venues, ensuring a high-quality playing experience for all teams involved.

Speaking about the Academy Cup, Sunil Gupta, CEO, Delhi Capitals, said, 'At Delhi Capitals, we have been focused on building a strong pathway for young cricketers, and the DC Global Academy Cup is an important step in that direction. By bringing together academies from different regions, including international participation, we are looking to create a platform that encourages competitive cricket at an early stage.'

'Grassroots development is one of our key focuses at DC. Through initiatives like this, we aim to give young players meaningful opportunities to play, learn and understand the demands of the game in a structured environment. It is equally important for us to provide them exposure to the professional ecosystem that surrounds the sport today,' he added.

The participating academies for the inaugural edition include:

1. DC London (Saj Mahmood Cricket Academy)2. DC TSS Bangalore3. DC Heritage Gurgaon4. DC Ball Park Palam Vihar5. DC Mayur Vihar6. DC Noida Sector 447. DC GBS Saket

Standout performers from the competition will be closely tracked as part of the Delhi Capitals' long-term talent identification and development pathway.

Delhi Capitals have consistently invested in grassroots cricket, with initiatives like the recently concluded DC School Cup in 2025 providing young players across Delhi the chance to compete at top venues, including the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

The DC Global Academy Cup takes that vision a step further, creating a more competitive platform for DC's academy players and strengthening the franchise's pathway from early development to higher levels of the game. (ANI)