After a decade of playing for Himachal Pradesh, Mayank Dagar wants to make a mark for Delhi — his city of birth — in the upcoming domestic season.

The left-arm spinner, who represented India in the 2016 U-19 World Cup in Bangladesh, obtained a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the concerned parties in January, paving the way for a switch ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

The 29-year-old will kick off the new season by making a maiden appearance in the Delhi Premier League. The tweaker, who has claimed 137 wickets in 51 First Class matches, will turn out for North Delhi Strikers in the third edition of the T20 competition.

For the experienced operator, the change is to find a route back into the Indian Premier League. He played three games for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2023 and five for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the following season, but hasn’t featured since.

“I have played for Himachal for a long time and I’ve done well as well. I was just looking for opportunities to get back into the IPL circuit. If I perform well on a platform like the DPL, somebody or the other will notice me. That is my hope,” Dagar told The Hindu.

His presence in the DPL — he has represented Himachal right from the age-group level — may not have pleased some members of the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) at the time of the auction earlier this month. Asked about the ‘outsider’ tag, Dagar, whose uncle is former India and Delhi opener Virender Sehwag, asserted that he belongs here.

“My entire family is from Delhi. I’ve come to Delhi because I wanted a change in my career. My job is to work hard and try to win matches if I get to represent Delhi,” Dagar said.