Hockey India League 2024 Auction: Date, Rules, Players Base Price & Categories - All You Need to Know

The Hockey India League (HIL) is set to make a historic comeback after a 7-year hiatus, with the 2024-25 edition bringing an exciting new era to the sport as the women's league will be making it's debut.

The HIL 2024-25 will feature 8 men's teams and 6 women's teams, marking the first time a standalone women's league will run concurrently with the men's competition. The HIL will officially commence on 28th December 2024, with a grand opening ceremony in Rourkela, Odisha.

Matches will be held across two iconic venues - Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi and Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. The women's league final will be held on 26th January 2025 in Ranchi, and the men's final is scheduled for 1st February 2025 in Rourkela.

Before the league gets underway, the franchises will assemble their squads at the auction, where several top Indian and overseas players will go under the hammer. Here is all you need to know about the HUL Auction:

When and where is the Hockey India League auction taking place?

The Hockey India League (HIL) players' auction for the 2024-25 season is scheduled to take place from 13th to 15th October at the Hyatt Regency in New Delhi. The men's auction will be held on the 13th and 14th of October, while the historic women's auction will take place on 15th October.

How many players can be in a team in Hockey India League?

Each team will consist of 24 players, including 16 Indian players (with a mandatory inclusion of 4 junior players) and 8 overseas players, reflecting HIL's vision of promoting both local and global talent.

HIL Players' Auction Details

Over 1,000 players have registered for the HIL 2024-25 auction, with a remarkable balance of domestic and international talent. Here is a look at the different category of players:

HIL Auction Player Category

Over 400 domestic men's players
Over 150 overseas men's players
Over 250 domestic women's players
Over 70 overseas women's players

Players are divided into three base price categories: INR 2,00,000, INR 5,00,000, and INR 10,00,000, based on the value they selected for themselves. The breakdown is as follow:

HIL Auction Players Base Price

Over 600 players in the INR 2,00,000 category
Over 250 players in the INR 5,00,000 category
Over 250 players in the INR 10,00,000 category

Star Players in the Auction

The Men's Auction will kick off with India's bronze medal-winning team from the Paris Olympics, featuring top stars like Captain Harmanpreet Singh, Vice Captain Hardik Singh, seasoned players like Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh, among others.

Adding to the excitement, former Indian hockey legends such as Rupinder Pal Singh, Birendra Lakra, and Dharamvir Singh have also registered, setting the stage for a highly anticipated event.

International hockey icons including Arthur van Doren, Alexander Hendrickx, Gonzalo Peillat, Jip Janssen, Thierry Brinkman, and Dayaan Cassiem will add global talent and flair to the men's league.

The Women's auction will kick off with top players from the Indian Women's Hockey Team, including seasoned goalkeeper Savita, Captain Salima Tete, rising star and drag-flicker Deepika, the most-capped Indian women's player Vandana Katariya, and Lalremsiami, among others.

Former Indian players like Yogita Bali, Lilima Minz, and Namita Toppo have also registered for the auction. International women's players including Delfina Merino, Charlotte Stapenhorst, Maria Granatto, Rachael Lynch, and Nike Lorenz are set to be part of the bidding war, adding further excitement to the first-ever HIL women's league.