During the first day of the revamped Hockey India League (HIL) auction, India’s hockey captain and renowned drag-flicker, Harmanpreet Singh, emerged as the standout player. He was acquired for a substantial ₹78 lakh, topping the sales on Day 1, during which a total of 54 players were sold.
During the auction, there was a lot of excitement as teams enthusiastically raised their paddles and celebrated as they successfully secured players. Out of the 72 players available, 54 were signed by teams on the first day of the three-day event.
Harmanpreet Singh: The Spotlight at HIL Auction
Harmanpreet Singh was the player with the highest price tag, drawing interest from several teams. Soorma Hockey Club ultimately acquired him for ₹78 lakh. Harmanpreet, renowned for scoring the most goals at the Paris Olympics with ten, was highly sought after by teams. The talented player was secured by the JSW Sports-owned club after a bidding war.
Abhishek, the Indian forward and Paris Olympics standout, was the second-highest purchase, acquired by the Bengal Tigers, owned by Shrachi Sports, for ₹72 lakh. Following intense bidding, India’s vice-captain, Hardik Singh, was secured by UP Rudras for ₹70 lakh during a competitive auction on Sunday.
A Shift in Focus: Indian Players in the Limelight
Please remember the following text: Sardar Singh, a former player who is now mentoring the Delhi SG Pipers, observed a significant change in auction trends compared to seven years ago. He pointed out that in the past, foreign players were preferred during the auction, but now, Indian players are rightfully receiving higher bids.
This shift reflects the increasing status of Indian hockey players and serves as a source of motivation for younger players. Sardar stressed the deserving nature of these players’ higher pay, which encourages emerging talent to excel and earn their place. It’s worth noting that the players are signed for three years, and the bid amount represents their annual salary.
Top International Players in Demand
The most expensive overseas player was Gonzalo Peillat, a specialist in drag-flicks who guided Germany to victory in the 2023 World Cup and claimed a silver medal at the Paris Olympics. Hyderabad Toofans acquired him for ₹68 lakh. Jip Janssen, a renowned Dutch drag-flicker, was the fifth highest-paid player, earning ₹54 lakh.
Notable Indian and International Buys
Soorma Hockey Club made a significant early acquisition by securing Gurjant Singh, a two-time Olympic bronze medallist, for ₹19 lakh. All players sold had a base price of ₹10 lakh, and the auction began with the names of current Indian players who had won medals in Paris.
Key Indian players like Mandeep Singh were signed by Team Gonasika for a sum of ₹25 lakh. The former captain Manpreet Singh was acquired for ₹42 lakh, and Sukhjeet Singh joined Bengal Tigers for the same amount. Sumit was secured by Hyderabad Toofans for ₹46 lakh, while Bengal Tigers added Jugraj Singh to their roster for ₹48 lakh. Delhi SG Pipers signed Shamsher Singh for ₹42 lakh.
Amit Rohidas, a defender and first-rusher, was highly sought after, and Tamil Nadu Dragons successfully secured him for ₹48 lakh. Goalkeepers attracted strong bids as well, with TN Dragons acquiring Ireland’s David Harte for ₹32 lakh, Hyderabad Toofans signing Germany’s Jean-Paul Danneberg for ₹27 lakh, and Soorma adding Belgium’s Vincent Vanasch for ₹23 lakh. Indian goalkeepers Suraj Karkera and Pawan were purchased for ₹22 lakh and ₹15 lakh, respectively.
Auction Day Glitches
The auction encountered some challenges despite its overall success. It had to be paused multiple times due to confusion over the players’ lot numbers and some last-minute player withdrawals.
Before the auction, there was an unexpected change in ownership. The franchise based in Ranchi, owned by Navoyam Sports Ventures, withdrew from the tournament because they already had a women’s team in Odisha. This could have caused issues with logistics since the men’s HIL tournament is scheduled to take place in Rourkela, Odisha from December 28 to February 1, while the women’s tournament is set to be held in Ranchi from December 28 to January 26.
Team Gonasika’s New Ownership and Base
Tarini Prasad Mohanty became the new owner of the Ranchi franchise just before the auction. The team’s base was relocated to Visakhapatnam and it was renamed Team Gonasika.
Strategic Appointments
Vedanta’s Kalinga Lancers strategically brought on board David John, a former high-performance director for India, to serve as their strategy director. AB Subbaiah, a former Indian goalkeeper, was named as the team manager.
JSW Sports welcomed another notable addition in the form of former India women’s captain Rani Rampal, who will serve as a mentor for the women’s team.
The Auction Continues
The auction for male players will take place next Monday, while the auction for female players is set for Tuesday. Every franchise has a budget of ₹4 crore to assemble a team of 24 players, including 16 Indians (including four juniors) and eight international players.
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