HIL Mini Auction, AS IT HAPPENED: The men's auction of the HIL 2026 came to an end with plenty of action, surprises and some record-breaking signings. The biggest buy of the day was Australia's Liam Henderson,
who went to Vedanta Kalinga Lancers for a massive ₹42 lakhs, making him the most expensive player so far. Germany's Thies Prinz and Dutch defender Sander de Wijn followed close behind, both fetching ₹36 lakhs each, with Hockey India and Tamil Nadu Dragons securing their services respectively.
Among the Indian players, Adrohit Ekka fetched ₹11 lakhs from Tamil Nadu after an intense bidding battle. The auction also threw the spotlight on young talent, with 18-year-old Vivek Lakra making headlines for being the costliest India after being snapped up by Bengal Tigers for a huge ₹24 lakhs, despite starting at just ₹2 lakhs. Another inspiring story was that of 14-year-old Ketan Kushwaha, who became the youngest signing of the auction after being bought by Bengal Tigers for ₹2.5 lakhs.
The men's auction not only highlighted the big international stars but also showed the rising value of Indian youngsters, who managed to secure impressive paychecks.
More than 100 male and over 100 female players will go under the hammer, with franchises working within a salary cap of INR 4 Crores for men and INR 2 Crores for women. Each team must assemble a 20-member squad (2 goalkeepers and 18 outfield players), while rules allow up to 7 overseas signings and mandate at least 3 Indian juniors, ensuring balance and opportunities for emerging talent.
Players will be listed under three base price categories - INR 2 Lakhs, INR 5 Lakhs, and INR 10 Lakhs, with INR 2 Lakhs as the minimum bid bracket for both Indian and foreign athletes. Importantly, teams can only participate in bidding if they have the budget and vacant slots, and they must keep their purse aligned with the squad requirements.
The auctions, seen as a crucial step in shaping squads for HIL 2026, are already generating buzz. With strategic planning underway in every camp, fans can expect intense bidding wars for top talent. The event begins at 10:30 AM, with the men's auction first, followed by the women's auction.
Reacting to the auction, President Dilip Tirkey said that organizing a league like the HIL takes a lot of hard work and planning. Hockey has a strong history in India, and the league helps more players get opportunities and makes the sport more inclusive. It also raises the profile of hockey. The league gives companies a chance to get involved and support players. He thanked the franchise partners for their support. The mini auction is an important step for the second edition of the league. He wished all the teams and players good luck.
