The two-day men’s auction for the Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 season kicked off in Delhi on Sunday. As the excitement built, eight teams vied for the stars from India’s bronze medal-winning squad at the Paris Olympics, along with some of the best international talent available. Here’s a look at the top five most expensive players from the first day of the auction:
1. Harmanpreet Singh
Team: Soorma Hockey Club
Price: ₹78 lakh
Position: Defender
Harmanpreet Singh emerged as the most expensive player on the opening day of the auction. Renowned for his skills as a captain, defender, and penalty corner specialist, Harmanpreet is celebrated as one of the world’s best drag flickers. He was instrumental in India’s bronze medal campaign at the Paris Olympics, scoring 10 goals, seven of which came from penalty corners.
At 28 years old, the Amritsar-born athlete made his Olympic debut in 2016 and has since achieved numerous accolades, including being the top scorer in the 2021-22 FIH Pro League and leading the team to victory in the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
2. Abhishek Nain
Team: Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers
Price: ₹72 lakh
Position: Forward
Forward Abhishek Nain was acquired for ₹72 lakh by Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers. He played a crucial role at the Paris Olympics, scoring vital goals against Belgium and Australia. Nain made his international debut in February 2022 and has since been part of the gold medal-winning team at the 2022 Asian Games and the silver medal-winning squad at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
3. Hardik Singh
Team: UP Rudras
Price: ₹70 lakh
Position: Midfielder
Midfielder Hardik Singh was secured by UP Rudras for ₹70 lakh. Trained by his uncle, former India drag-flicker Jugraj Singh, Hardik debuted for the senior team at the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy. He has been an essential player for India, contributing to the bronze medal win at the Tokyo Olympics and the gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games.
4. Gonzalo Peillat
Team: Hyderabad Toofans
Price: ₹68 lakh
Position: Defender
Gonzalo Peillat, a former star of Argentina’s national team, was picked up by Hyderabad Toofans for ₹68 lakh, making him the most expensive foreign player on day one. After winning the top scorer award at the Rio Olympics in 2016, Peillat switched nationality and debuted for Germany in 2022. He was part of the German team that won the World Cup in 2023 and had a strong performance at the Paris Olympics.
5. Jip Janssen
Team: Tamil Nadu Dragons
Price: ₹54 lakh
Position: Defender
The 26-year-old Dutch defender Jip Janssen was bought for ₹54 lakh by Tamil Nadu Dragons. Janssen was instrumental in the Netherlands’ success at the Paris Olympics, where he was the team’s top scorer with five goals, contributing significantly to their gold medal victory.
As the auction continues, the stakes are high, and it will be fascinating to see how the teams further bolster their rosters with talent in the coming days.
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