Hockey India League Player Auction Day 2: Teams assemble robust squads for 2024-25 season

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The Hockey India League Player Auction 2024-25 for the men's competition was successfully conducted in New Delhi on 13th and 14th October 2024. All eight franchises assembled robust squads for the upcoming season, scheduled to take place in Rourkela later this year.

On Day 2 of the auction, overseas players fetched significant bids, with Belgium's Victor Wegnez (sold for 40 lakh to Soorma Hockey Club) becoming the costliest buy. Other top overseas buys included the Dutch Captain Thierry Brinkman (38 lakh) and Belgium's Arthur Van Doren (32 lakh), sold to Kalinga Lancers, while Moriangthem Rabichandra (32 lakh to Kalinga Lancers) and Maninder Singh (26 lakh to Soorma Hockey Club) were notable Indian buys on Day 2.

Young players with a base price of 2 lakh also made merry at the auction, with Angad Bir Singh going to Kalinga Lancers for 26 lakh and Rajinder to Hyderabad Toofans for 23 lakh.

Earlier, on the opening day, all eight franchises spent heavily to acquire Indian Men's Hockey team core players. Harmanpreet Singh, acquired by Soorma Hockey Club, emerged as the most expensive buy at the men's HIL Player Auction. Abhishek became the second-most expensive buy, acquired by Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for 72 lakh, while Hardik Singh went to UP Rudras for 70 lakh.

Germany's Gonzalo Peillat became the most expensive overseas player, bought for 68 lakh, along with the Netherlands' Jip Janssen, acquired for 54 lakh by Tamil Nadu Dragons.