Five things to expect from Hockey India League player auction

Published at :October 13, 2024 at 9:35 AM

Modified at :October 13, 2024 at 9:35 AM

(Courtesy : Hockey India)

The auction is from October 13th and will be a three-day affair.

The Hockey India League player auction will get underway on October 13. The coming three days promise us a lot of surprises and excitement. With more than 1000 players registering and over 300 players expected to be sold at the auction in the men’s and women’s categories combined, the stage is set for franchises to build their dream team.

Teams are working on a limited budget and that presents a unique opportunity to showcase excellence in strategy and competition even before the tournament begins.

Players from all over Europe, the Americas and Australia have registered their interests. And with the Paris Olympics having concluded not long ago, franchises will have prepared the list of marquee signings they want to make.

While India had a very ordinary outing in the FIH Pro League, the excellent comeback by the boys in Paris to win the historic bronze medal wouldn’t go unnoticed. The likes of Hardik Singh, Mandeep Singh, Abhishek, Harmanpreet Singh and many others could go for big money. The Indian women’s team members would also want to make a name for themselves after a disappointing 2024.

Budget management will be key and so, teams will have to strike a balance between star power and depth in the squad. Young emerging players would be key in such cases, and the Indian junior side’s excellent performances would be kept in mind by the franchises while building the squad.

Without any further ado, let’s discuss five things that we expect to happen at the Hockey India League player auction.

Five things to expect from the Hockey India League player auction

5. Women’s players to go under the hammer for the first time

It will be the first time women will be competing in the Hockey India League. There have already been five editions of the men’s Hockey India League (HIL). Before the five tournaments, the players were bought by the teams and the squads were formed through the process of auction.

But since there were no professional women’s hockey league before, these Indian women’s players will, for the first time in their career, know how it feels to be on the auction. This is a big step in the right direction for the national team and the players as it gives playing hockey as a female in the country a professional look.

4. We will know the teams in women’s tournament

As aforementioned, this is the inaugural edition of the women’s Hockey India League. The first edition will have six teams, as announced by Hockey India. However, even though the auction is from October 13th, we are yet to know all the six teams that will compete in the tournament. Of the six teams, only Team Odisha, Team Haryana, Delhi SG Pipers and Rarh Bengal Tigers are announced.

But with the auction happening from Sunday, we will know which other two teams will play. It is rumoured that at least one of the two teams will be from South India.

3. Goalkeepers to be in high demand

The tournament has been announced as one where no games will end as a draw. If the two teams can’t be separated after having played four quarters of 15 minutes each, they will play a shoot-out, like the teams that finish as equals in a knockout stage game or any FIH Pro League game play. The teams that win the shoot-out will then be awarded more points, even though the two finished the game on the same score.

This, for obvious reasons, makes the goalkeepers high in demand. And the teams will want the best showstoppers in their squad to get those extra points, in case they finish a game on level with the opponents.

2. Yibbi Jansen to be the highest-paid women’s player

Yibbi Jansen is the best female hockey player in the world right now. She finished the FIH Pro League 2023-24 season as the top scorer. She also helped her country win the gold medal in the Paris Olympics 2024, thus continuing the Dutch dominance in women’s hockey. Yibbi is a defender with the best drag-flicking abilities in world hockey.

She is not just a goal threat but an amicable defender on the field and almost levels above the rest, at times. It is difficult to see anyone getting more than her in the auction.

1. Harmanpreet Singh will be the highest-paid men’s player

Harmanpreet Singh has finished the Pro League and international hockey as the top scorer for consecutive years now. When it comes to goalscoring, the Indian captain has no match. He is cool and composed on the ball and his long passes are as good as they can get.

And now, after he fired the Indian men’s hockey team to a consecutive bronze medal at the Olympics, it is difficult to see how any player would be more valued than the Indian sarpanch at the Hockey India League auction.

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