Lavish spending largely failed to materialise in the first half of day two bidding action in the Hockey India League (HIL) auction, with bargains picked up as well as some players surprisingly left unsold.
While Germany captain Mats Grambusch failed to be acquired, Kalinga Lancers, champions in the last HIL edition in 2017, looked cock-a-hoop by bidding Rs 23 lakh (£20,000) for Belgium penalty corner star Alexander Hendrickx.
The biggest overseas spends saw Punjab-based Soorma Hockey Club pick up Belgium midfielder Victor Wegnez for 40 lakh (£36,000) and Jeremy Hayward for 42 lakh (£38,000). The duo joined Dayaan Cassiem, alongside showpiece signing Harmanpreet Singh in what looks an exciting set up.
Zach Wallace became the most expensive British player so far on day two when Hyderabad Toofans successfully outbid Delhi and UP Rudras with Rs 26 lakh. Wallace will join up with the higest overseas purchase so far, Gonzalo Peillat, after Toofans aquired the German for 68 lakh on Sunday.
Delhi were also in the mix for Thierry Brinkman but coach Graham Reid was again outbid as Kalinga Lancers pushed the boat to Rs 38 lakh.
The Lancers have solid foundations after acquiring a trio of Red Lions. Arthur van Doren was sold for 32 lakh, joining Antoine Kina and Hendrickx.
Elsewhere, Australian Tom Craig, banned from international hockey, was signed by Tamil Nadu Dragons for Rs 20 lakh, having also signed Blake Govers for 27 lakh.
England and GB forward Sam Ward, with a base value of 10 lakh, was left unsold, as was Liam Ansell.
Team Gonasika, who have yet to announce coaching staff, acquired Ward’s GB team-mates Jack Waller and Lee Morton for their base value 10 lakh (£9,000).
They made it a trio when they signed Jacob Draper for his base price of 5 lakh and will play in front of a fourth GB player, goalkeeper Oliie Payne who was signed on Sunday.
Gonasika, the Visakhapatnam franchise who replaced Ranchi, had earlier signed Manpreet and Mandeep Singh on day one.
Delhi were one of the first to complete their overseas quota of eight when Dutch forward Jorrit Croon went for the base price of Rs 10 lakh.
Elsewhere, the debut season of the women’s HIL will have four teams with two teams added for season two.
It was expected that six teams would join in year one.
Soorma Hockey Club, Delhi SG Pipers, Odisha Warriors, and Rarh Bengal Tigers will bid for players in Tuesday’s one-day auction.
Hyderabad Toofans, owned by Resolute Sports, and BC Jindal Group will be the other two teams from the second season.
More to follow…
