Pro Kabaddi League Season 11 Auction Day 1: A historic kick-off with record buys

The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 11 Player Auction kicked off with a bang on Independence Day, breaking several records and creating a historic moment in the league's history. The auction, organized by Mashal Sports, witnessed an unprecedented number of players crossing the INR 1 Crore mark.

The highlight of the day was star raider Sachin, who emerged as the most expensive player. He secured a staggering INR 2.15 Crore contract with Tamil Thalaivas. This remarkable bid made him the highest buy-in Category A.

Not far behind, Iranian star Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh was snapped up by Haryana Steelers for INR 2.07 Crore, making him the most expensive foreign player in PKL history. Notably, Shadloui Chiyaneh also became the first foreign player to be bought for over INR 2 Crore in consecutive auctions. It’s worth noting that both of these players were part of Patna Pirates in previous seasons.

8 Players in the Crorepati Club

A total of eight players joined the elite Crorepati club on Day 1. Alongside Sachin and Shadloui Chiyaneh, the list includes Guman Singh, Pawan Sehrawat, Bharat, Maninder Singh, Ajinkya Pawar, and Sunil Kumar. Sunil Kumar's acquisition by U Mumba for INR 1.015 Crore set a new record, making him the most expensive Indian defender ever in PKL.

The auction saw the use of Final Bid Match (FBM) cards by several teams. Bengal Warriorz, Telugu Titans, and Gujarat Giants utilized their FBM cards to retain Maninder Singh, Pawan Sehrawat, and Sombir respectively.

Pradeep Narwal makes a comeback to Bengaluru

Veteran raider Pardeep Narwal, with the most raid points in PKL history, was acquired by Bengaluru Bulls for INR 70 Lakh. Expressing his excitement, Narwal said, "It feels great to return to the team where my PKL journey began. I look forward to playing with the young talents in the Bulls squad and aim to surpass 1800 raid points in my career."

Similarly, Maninder Singh, who returned to Bengal Warriorz for INR 1.15 Crore, shared his joy, saying, "I am thrilled to be back. Bengal Warriorz is like a family to me, and I am eager to perform even better than last season."

Top Buys in Categories A and B

In Category A, the top buys were:

1. Sachin (India) – INR 2.15 Crore, Tamil Thalaivas
2. Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh (Iran) – INR 2.07 Crore, Haryana Steelers
3. Guman Singh (India) – INR 1.97 Crore, Gujarat Giants
4. Pawan Sehrawat (India) – INR 1.72 Crore, Telugu Titans
5. Maninder Singh (India) – INR 1.15 Crore, Bengal Warriorz

In Category B, the top buys were:

1. Bharat (All-Rounder) – INR 1.30 Crore, UP Yoddhas
2. Ajinkya Pawar (Raider) – INR 1.107 Crore, Bengaluru Bulls
3. Manjeet (Raider) – INR 80 Lakh, U Mumba
4. Pardeep Narwal (Raider) – INR 70 Lakh, Bengaluru Bulls
5. Shubham Shinde (Defender) – INR 70 Lakh, Patna Pirates