Hockey
HIL Auctions 2024: Harmanpreet Singh becomes the most expensive player
Harmanpreet Singh, Abhishek, and Hardik became the three most expensive players on the Day 1 of Hockey India League auctions.
Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh (Photo credit: Olympics)
New Delhi: JSW-owned Soorma Hockey Club broke the bank to sign Harmanpreet Singh making him the most expensive signing on the first day of the Hockey India League auctions on Sunday.
As expected Abhishek (for 72 lakhs to Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers) and Hardik Singh (for 72 lakhs to UP Rudras) fetched big prices while Gonzalo Peillat (for 68 lakhs to Hyderabad Toofans) and Jip Janssen (for 54 lakhs to Tamil Nadu Dragons) became the foreign players who sparked a bidding war among the teams.
The Indian players from the 2024 Paris Olympics were in demand as all the franchises spent heavily to acquire their services.
Talking about Harmanpreet's buy, the mentor of Soorma HC, Sardar Singh said, "He (Harmanpreet) was our target and we got him. He was expected to be one of the most expensive players and I am happy that we got him."
The first buy of the auction was made by Soorma HC who bought Gurjant Singh for 19 lakh while Amit Rohidas (for 48 lakh to Tamil Nadu Dragons) and Jugraj Singh (for 48 lakh to Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers) were the top picks among Indian defenders.
Team Gonasika secured the services of Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh for 42 lakhs and 25 lakhs.
Meanwhile, among the overseas goalkeepers, Ireland's David Harte was the top buy, with Tamil Nadu Dragons winning the bid for 32 lakh.
Germany's Jean-Paul Danneberg (for 27 lakh to Hyderabad Toofans), the Netherlands' Pirmin Blaak (for 25 lakh to Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers), and Belgium's Vincent Vanasch (for 23 lakh to Soorma Hockey Club) were also acquired.
Indian goalkeepers Krishan Bahadur Pathak (for 32 lakhs to Kalinga Lancers), Suraj Karkera (for 22 lakhs by Team Gonasika), and Pawan (for 15 lakhs to Delhi SG Pipers).
Among Indian youngsters, Araijeet Singh Hundal fetched 42 lakhs while Amir Ali got 34 lakhs both going to Team Gonasika. Young defender Rohit was bought by Delhi SG Pipers for 40 lakhs.
Most expensive buys from Day 1 of Hockey India League Auctions: (All Prices in INR)
- Harmanpreet Singh (IND) - Soorma Hockey Club - 78 lakh
- Abhishek (IND) - Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers - 72 lakh
- Hardik Singh (IND) - UP Rudras - 70 lakh
- Gonzalo Peillat (GER) - Hyderabad Toofans - 68 lakh
- Jip Janssen (NED) - Tamil Nadu Dragons - 54 lakh
HIL teams after the first day of the auction:
Team Gonasika: Manpreet Singh (42 Lacs), Mandeep Singh (25 Lacs), Suraj Karkera ( 22 Lacs), Araijeet Singh Hundal (42 Lacs), Nilam Xess (17 Lacs), Amir Ali (34 Lacs), Birendra Lakra (10 Lacs), Yogember Rawat (11 Lacs), Oliver John Payne (England- 15 Lacs), Jeroen Hertzberger (Netherlands - 20 Lacs).
Soorma Hockey Club: Harmanpreet Singh (78 Lacs), Vivek Sagar Prasad (40 Lacs), Gurjant Singh (19 Lacs), Gurinder Singh (11 Lacs), Jeremy Hayward (Australia - 42 Lacs), Dayaan Cassiem (South Africa - 25 Lacs), Vincent Vanasch (Belgium - 23 Lacs).
Rahr Bengal Tigers: Abhishek (72 Lacs), Jugraj Singh (48 Lacs), Sukhjeet Singh (42 Lacs), Rupinder Pal Singh (12.5 Lacs), Pirmin Blaak (Netherlands - 25 Lacs), Florent Van Aubel (Belgium - 25 Lacs), Gauthier Boccard (Belgium - 18 Lacs), Hayden Beltz (Australia - 13 Lacs).
Tamil Nadu Dragons: Amit Rohidas (48 Lacs), Selvam Karthi (24 Lacs), Kothajit Singh (10 Lacs), Jip Janssen (NED- 54 Lacs), Duco Telgenkamp (Netherlands - 36 Lacs), David Harte (Ireland - 32 Lacs)
Hyderabad Toofans: Sumit (46 Lacs), Nilakanta Sharma (34 Lacs), Shilanand Lakra (21 Lacs), Gonzalo Peillat (Germany - 68 Lacs), Jean Danneberg (Germany - 27 Lacs)
Kalinga Lancers: Sanjay (38 Lacs), Dilpreet Singh (34 Lacs), Krishan B Pathak (32 Lacs), Boby Singh Dhami (20 Lacs), Mandeep Mor (19 Lacs)
UP Rudras: Hardik Singh (70 Lacs), Lalit Upadhaya (28 Lacs), Surender Kumar (14 Lacs), Álvaro Iglesias (Spain - 12.5 Lacs), Lars Balk (Netherlands - 40 Lacs), Kane Russell (New Zealand - 30 Lacs)
Delhi SG Pipers: Shamsher Singh (42 Lacs), Rajumar Pal (40 Lacs), Rohit (40 Lacs), Jarmanpreet Singh (38 Lacs), Varun Kumar (34 Lacs), Pawan (15 Lacs), Tomas Santiago (Argentina - 10 Lacs)
Purses left for each team after the Day 1 of HIL Auctions:
- Hyderabad Toofans - 204.00 lakh
- Soorma Hockey Club - 162.00 lakh
- Rarh Bengal Tigers - 144.50 lakh
- Delhi SG Pipers - 181.00 lakh
- Tamil Nadu Dragons - 196.00 lakh
- UP Rudras - 206.00 lakh
- Kalinga Lancers - 257.00 lakh
- Team Gonasika- 161.00 lakh
