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The Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 auction concluded its first day with Harmanpreet Singh, the Indian captain, emerging as the most expensive player, fetching a hefty sum of Rs 78 lakh. This marked a significant moment as the ace drag-flicker, acquired by Soorma Hockey Club, was predicted to be a prime attraction during the bidding process. The day was marked by several Indian national team players fetching far higher prices than anticipated, with several players exceeding their base price of Rs 10 lakh.
Abhishek Nain, acquired by Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, secured the second-highest price at Rs 72 lakh. Following closely behind, Hardik Singh, the Indian vice-captain, was bought by UP Rudras for Rs 70 lakh. Jugraj Singh (Bengal) and Amit Rohidas (Tamil Nadu Dragons), both commanding Rs 48 lakh, rounded out the top-tier Indian players. While most national team members secured decent sums, Gurjant Singh and Mandeep Singh, the first players put up for sale, faced disappointment with bids of only Rs 19 lakh and Rs 25 lakh respectively, suggesting teams were cautious at the outset, gradually gaining momentum as the auction progressed.
Among the international players, Gonzalo Peillat, the Argentine-turned-German, was the clear frontrunner, sparking a competitive bidding war amongst all franchises before finally being secured by Hyderabad Toofans for a substantial Rs 68 lakh, making him the fourth most expensive player overall. This acquisition also surpassed Dutch drag-flicker Jip Janssen as the top foreign player acquisition, with Janssen fetching Rs 54 lakh from Tamil Nadu Dragons. The auction also witnessed promising performances from young players like Araijit Singh Hundal and Rohit, who were picked for Rs 42 lakh by Gonasika and Rs 40 lakh by SG Pipers respectively. Australian forward Jeremy Hayward (JSW, Rs 42 lakh) and Dutchman Lars Balk (UP, Rs 40 lakh) were other notable foreign buys, while veteran goalkeeper Andrew Charter went unsold. However, the auction was not without its share of unexpected occurrences. A mix-up arose when Dutch goalkeeper Maurits Visser was put up for bidding, only to be subsequently withdrawn, necessitating last-minute adjustments. What was unanimous was the feeling that the 4cr purse was too little.
Acknowledging the prevailing sentiment, Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey admitted that changing the purse at the last minute was not feasible, and they were reluctant to overburden the teams in their inaugural year. He assured that while the auction was committed to a three-year cycle, they would engage in discussions with the franchises after the first year to evaluate the purse and consider increasing it for subsequent years. The HIL auction concluded its first day with a mix of excitement and concerns, highlighting the fierce competition for top talent and the need to address the limited purse for future seasons.