Hockey India League Auction: Akashdeep Singh Becomes a Millionaire; no Big Deal for Sardar, Dwyer

Heading into Thursday's Hockey India League auction, all the talk was on Sardar Singh and Jamie Dwyer. The Indian hockey captain and Dwyer, an Australian veteran for 15 years, were expected to be lapped up by the franchises in a big way, but the script didn't unfold that way. (Akashdeep Singh Highest Paid Indian, Disappointing Return for Sardar Singh)

Young Akashdeep Singh smiled all the way to the bank with a cheque for USD 84,000 (approximately 5.5 million INR) while Germany's Moritz Fuerste became the first player in the history of the Hockey India League to breach the USD 100,000 barrier. (Hockey India League Auction Highlights)

With new goal-scoring rules to come into play from season 4 of Hockey India League, the onus was clearly on youth and firepower. The teams showed vision while preparing their mandatory 20-man squads. (HIL Auction: Moritz Fuerste Breaks USD 100,000 mark)

Sardar and Dwyer thus lost out to younger, stronger and skillful players. Sardar, whose base price was USD 20,000 went for just USD 58,000 to Jaypee Punjab Warriors while Dwyer, whose base price was USD 30,000, was bought by Uttar Pradesh Wizards for only USD 57,000.

Uttar Pradesh Wizards Bid Aggressively at the start but found themselves in budget problems in the Hockey India League Auction. (Image Source: Hockey India Limited)

Young striker Akashdeep Singh was the top Indian pick. The 23-year-old was snapped up by Uttar Pradesh for USD 84,000, which was more than four times his base price of USD 20,000. It made him the costliest Indian in the auction.

Sandeep Singh and late surprise Gurmail Singh turned out to be second highest money maker among Indian players. Both Sandeep and Gurmail were purchased for identical USD 81,000 (Rs 53,57,578) by Ranchi Rays and Dabang Mumbai, respectively.

Gurmail's price was a complete surprise as the defender attracted such a huge sum as against his base price  of USD 12,000. Delhi Waveriders and Jaypee Punjab were involved in an intense bidding war on Gurmail and it seemed he would beat Akashdeep's mark

Indian striker Gurwinder Singh Chandi was the third best Indian, attracting a handsome pay packet of USD 75,000 (Rs 49,63,809) from Jaypee Punjab

Warriors against his base price of USD 20,000.

Young Indian strikers Mandeep Singh and Nikkin Thimmiah too pocketed huge amount as Delhi Waveriders and Dabang Mumbai shelled out USD 70,000 (Rs 46,30,416) and USD 67,000 (Rs 44,31,496), respectively.

Indian dragflicker Rupinder Pal Singh and striker Dharamvir Singh bagged USD 68,000 (Rs 44,98,943) and USD 60,000 (Rs 39,69,656), respectively from Delhi Waveriders and Kalinga Lancers against their base prices of USD 20,000 each.

Moritz Fuerste had a base price of USD 30,000 but was the only hockey player to breach the One Million USD mark.

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Fuerste, who was a member of the German Team that won the gold medal at 2008 Summer Olympics, 2012 Summer Olympics and 2006 World Cup, was picked by Kalinga Lancers for a whopping USD 105,000 (Rs 69,46, 289).

Besides Fuerste, German striker Florian Fuchs was picked up by Dabang Mumbai for USD 96,000 (Rs 63,53,336) against his base price of USD 20,000. German midfielder Tobias Hauke was purchased by Uttar Pradesh Wizards for USD 96,000 (Rs 63,53,336) against his base price of USD 25,000.

(With inputs from PTI)