India forward Akashdeep Singh left most of the big guns behind to win a purse of $84,000 at the Hockey India League (HIL) Players auction here on Thursday, which saw six franchises bidding for 272 Indian and foreign players for a contractual period of the next two seasons.
Uttar Pradesh Wizards, who played the auction like a spendthrift, beat Dabang Mumbai and Ranchi Rays in a three-way battle to bring Akashdeep in their camp. The franchise was even warned by Hockey India President, Narinder Batra, for their money-splurging tactics that put them in danger of falling short of the 20 they needed to complete the squad.
Akashdeep, who has been a regular member of the Indian team over the last five years, seemed to top UP's wish-list as they went all out for the man from Jalandhar in Punjab. But Ranchi and Mumbai didn't relent in the bidding war and only opted out once it crossed the $80,000 mark.
Akashdeep's record bid faced late, unlikely competition from defender Gurmail Singh who went for a jaw-dropping price of $81,000 with Dabang Mumbai leaving behind Delhi Waveriders in a two-franchise race.
Akashdeep's base price was $20,000, while Gurmail's base price was only $12,000.
Also joining Gurmail at $81,000 selling price was veteran defender Sandeep Singh whose high-scoring reputation in the HIL earned him the big bucks from Ranchi Rays.
India captain Sardar Singh, however, was left far behind in the race for big money and did not feature in the top 10 Indian buys of the day.
Here's the list of top 15 Indian buys at HIL Players Auction 2015:
1. Akashdeep Singh - $84000 - UP Wizards
2. Sandeep Singh - $81000 - Ranchi Rays
3. Gurmail Singh - $81000 - Dabang Mumbai
4. Gurwinder Singh Chandi - $75,000 - Punjab Warriors
5. Mandeep Singh - $70,000 - Delhi Waveriders
6. Rupinderpal Singh - $68,000 - Delhi Waveriders
7. Nikkin Thimmaih - $67,000 - Dabang Mumbai
8. Jasjit Singh Kular - $65,000 - Punjab Warriors
9. Chinglensana Singh - $62,000 - UP Wizards
10. Dharamvir Singh - $60,000 - Kalinga Lancers
11. Sardar Singh - $58,000 - Punjab Warriors
12. Danish Mujtaba - $54,000 - Dabang Mumbai
13. SK Uthappa - $54,000 - Kalinga Lancers
14. Affan Yousuf - $53,000 - Dabang Mumbai
15. Vickram Kanth - $52,000 - Delhi Waveriders
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