The opening day of the 2024/25 Hockey India League auction saw intense bidding as all eight franchises splurged on the Indian Men’s Hockey team’s key players.
Gurjant Singh was the first player snapped up, going for 19 lakh to Soorma Hockey Club. Meanwhile, Indian captain and drag-flick expert Harmanpreet Singh became the most expensive player of the day, fetching a staggering 78 lakh from the same club, owned by JSW Sports. Abhishek became the second-highest buy, joining Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for 72 lakh, while UP Rudras secured Hardik Singh for 70 lakh.
Other standout signings included Amit Rohidas, sold to Tamil Nadu Dragons for 48 lakh, Jugraj Singh who joined Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for the same price, and Sumit, acquired by Hyderabad Toofans for 46 lakh.
Among the international goalkeepers, Ireland’s David Harte was the most expensive, with Tamil Nadu Dragons securing him for 32 lakh. German goalkeeper Jean-Paul Danneberg went to Hyderabad Toofans for 27 lakh, the Netherlands’ Pirmin Blaak was signed by Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for 25 lakh, and Belgium’s Vincent Vanasch was picked by Soorma Hockey Club for 23 lakh. Indian keepers Suraj Karkera and Pawan were also in demand, with the former heading to Team Gonasika for 22 lakh and the latter to Delhi SG Pipers for 15 lakh.
Full List of Players Sold (First Half of Day 1)
Gurjant Singh – Soorma Hockey Club – 19 lakh
Mandeep Singh – Team Gonasika – 25 lakh
Manpreet Singh – Team Gonasika – 42 lakh
Sukhjeet Singh – Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers – 42 lakh
Amit Rohidas – Tamil Nadu Dragons – 48 lakh
Nilakanta Sharma – Hyderabad Toofans – 34 lakh
Sanjay – Kalinga Lancers – 38 lakh
Lalit Kumar Upadhyay – UP Rudras – 28 lakh
Vivek Sagar Prasad – Soorma Hockey Club – 40 lakh
Hardik Singh – UP Rudras – 70 lakh
Harmanpreet Singh – Soorma Hockey Club – 78 lakh
Sumit – Hyderabad Toofans – 46 lakh
Abhishek – Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers – 72 lakh
Jugraj Singh – Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers – 48 lakh
Krishan B Pathak – Kalinga Lancers – 32 lakh
Shamsher Singh – Delhi SG Pipers – 42 lakh
Jarmanpreet Singh – Delhi SG Pipers – 40 lakh
Rajkumar Pal – Delhi SG Pipers – 40 lakh
David Harte (IRL) – Tamil Nadu Dragons – 32 lakh
Jean-Paul Danneberg (GER) – Hyderabad Toofans – 27 lakh
Oliver Payne (GBR) – Team Gonasika – 15 lakh
Pirmin Blaak (NED) – Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers – 25 lakh
Tomás Santiago (ARG) – Delhi SG Pipers – 10 lakh
Vincent Vanasch (BEL) – Soorma Hockey Club – 23 lakh
Suraj Karkera – Team Gonasika – 22 lakh
Pawan – Delhi SG Pipers – 15 lakh