Akashdeep, top Indian pick in HIL auction

Akashdeep, a dynamic 21-year-old who has played 78 Internationals, was purchased by Uttar Pradesh Wizards for USD 84,000 (INR 55,56, 247). Veteran dragflicker Sandeep Singh and defender Gurmail Singh were the second most expensive Indian buys, going for an identical USD 81,000 (Rs 53,57,578) to champions Ranchi Rays and Dabang Mumbai respectively.

A total of 271 players – 135 Indian and 136 foreign – went under the hammer ahead of the 2016 edition to be held between January 18 and February 21 next year. Jaypee Punjab Warriors, Ranchi Rays, Uttar Pradesh Wizards, Delhi Waveriders, Kalinga Lancers and Dabang Mumbai are the six teams in the franchise-based tournament.

All franchises were required to select their 20-member squad comprising 12 Indians and eight foreign players, out of a total purse of USD 725,000 each for the next two seasons.

Germany's Moritz Fuerste attracted the highest ever bid in HIL history, while India captain and midfielder Sardar Singh went for less than three times his base price of USD 20,000 to Punjab Warriors. Midfielder Fuerste, member of the German gold medal-winning team at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, was bought by Kalinga Lancers for USD 105,000 (Rs 69,46,289).

The new regulations in the tournament will award two goals for every successful field effort in a bid to make the game more attacking. A goal will also count double if it comes from a penalty corner that was awarded because a goal was prevented by a deliberate foul. The other goal regulations remain the same with penalty corner goals, goals scored from a stroke resulting from a penalty corner and those in shootouts all considered as one goal.

FIH, world hockey’s global body, has been trying to make the game faster and exciting in recent years. It changed the format to four 15-minute quarters from two 35-minute halves during last year’s Asian Games, a rule which had earlier been tried in the HIL. The world body said it was consulted by HIL organisers on the changes in regulation, but does not intend to introduce similar changes in international games.

Top 10 Indian buys: Akashdeep Singh (USD 84,000; Uttar Pradesh Wizards), Sandeep Singh (USD 81,000; Ranchi Rays), Gurmail Singh (USD 81,000; Dabang Mumbai), Gurwinder Singh Chandi (USD 75,000; Jaypee Punjab Warriors); Mandeep Singh (USD 70,000; Delhi Waveriders), Rupinder Pal Singh (USD 68,000; Delhi Waveriders), Nikkin Thimmiah (USD 67,000; Dabang Mumbai), Chinglensana Singh (USD 62,000; Uttar Pradesh Wizards),Dharamvir Singh (USD 60,000; Kalinga Lancers), Sardar Singh (USD 58,000; Jaypee Punjab Warriors), S K Uthappa (USD 54,000; Kalinga Lancers), Danish Mujtaba (USD 54,000; Dabang Mumbai).

Top foreign buys: Moritz Fuerste (USD 105,000; Kalinga Lancers), Florian Fuchs (USD 96,000; Dabang Mumbai), Tobias Hauke (USD 96,000; Uttar Pradesh Wizards), Matthew Swann (USD 75,000 Dabang Mumbai), Matt Gohdes (USD 71,000; Jaypee Punjab Warriors), Austin Smith (USD 59,000; Delhi Waveriders), Simon Orchard (USD 58,000; Jaypee Punjab Warriors), Jamie Dwyer (USD 57,000; Uttar Pradesh Wizards), Benjamin Stanzl (USD 35,000; Delhi Waveriders), Tyler Lovell (USD 30,000; Ranchi Rays), Nicolas Jacobi (USD 27,000, Jaypee Punjab Warriors).