<p>India’s captain and star playmaker Sardar Singh became the highest paid player as he went for a whopping $78,000 (Rs 42.5 lakhs approx) to Delhi Wave Riders while Uttar Pradesh Wizards bought ace drag-flicker VR Raghunath for $76,000 at the Hockey India League (HIL) players’ auction here on Sunday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Such was the bidding war for Raghunath between UP Wizards and Delhi that his ultimate sale price turned out to be $10,000 more than UP franchise’s marquee player Teun de Nooijer, who was bought for $66,000 (approx Rs 35.93 lakh). Interestingly, Raghunath’s base price was only $13,900 (Rs 7.56 lakh).<br /><br />Sardar with India team-mate Sandeep Singh, Australian Jamie Dwyer, Dutch legend Teun De Nooijer and German Mortiz Fuertse were the marquee players of the league. Dwyer was bought by Jaypee Punjab Warriors for $60,000, Fuertse by Ranchi Rhinos for $75,500 and Nooijer by Uttar Pradesh Wizards for $66,000.<br /><br />But Sandeep, who is out of the team after a poor show at the London Olympics, was sold to Mumbai Magicians for a base price of $27,800. But thanks to Australian defender Joel Caroll, Sandeep will be getting a better pay package. Caroll was bought by Mumbai for $56,000 and as a marquee player Sandeep will be getting 15 percent more than the Australian.<br /><br />The biggest disappointment of the day was former India captain and goalkeeper Bharat Chettri going unsold. The Kalimpong boy had a reserve price of $18,550.<br /><br />Chettri, who led India to a last-place finish at the London Olympics, was dropped from the national squad after the Games.<br /><br />India’s other two goalkeepers got a good deal. First choice goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, with a reserve price of $13,900, was sold to Mumbai Magicians for $38,000 while PT Rao, who made an impressive debut at the age of 34 at the Champions Trophy, was also sold to Mumbai for $17,000. Rao had a reserve price of $5,600.<br /><br />Other important Indian players sold at the auction were SV Sunil (Punjab for $42,000), Yuvraj Walmiki (Delhi for $18,000), and Shivendra Singh (Punjab for $27,500).<br /><br />Mumbai’s Tushar Khandkar was sold for only $100 more than his reserve price of $13,900 to Uttar Pradesh while SK Uthappa went to the same team for $25,000 and Gurbaj Singh to Delhi for $36,000.<br /><br />Seasoned campaigner Ignace Tirkey, who had a reserve price of $13,900, went to Punjab for $31,000 while young defender Rupinder Pal Singh, with a base price of $9,250, was sold to Uttar Pradesh for $56,000.<br /><br />The only Briton in the auction, Ashley Jackson, was another big gainer, going home with a purse of $73,000 -- a good buy for the Ranchi Rhinos.<br /><br />Unlike cricket’s Indian Premier League (IPL), there were no problems with the auction of Pakistani players as the Mumbai franchise bought Fareed Ahmed for $21,000 and Mohammed Rashid for $41,000.<br /><br />“I am extremely delighted that I have been able to command a good price,” said a delighted Sardar. “I wasn’t aware about my price as I arrived late for the auction. By the time I reached here, I was already sold,” Sardar said with a smile of contentment.<br /><br />All teams were given a purse of $650,000. Each team will comprise 24 players -- 14 Indians and 10 overseas. The league will be held in five cities from January 17, 2013.</p>
<p>India’s captain and star playmaker Sardar Singh became the highest paid player as he went for a whopping $78,000 (Rs 42.5 lakhs approx) to Delhi Wave Riders while Uttar Pradesh Wizards bought ace drag-flicker VR Raghunath for $76,000 at the Hockey India League (HIL) players’ auction here on Sunday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Such was the bidding war for Raghunath between UP Wizards and Delhi that his ultimate sale price turned out to be $10,000 more than UP franchise’s marquee player Teun de Nooijer, who was bought for $66,000 (approx Rs 35.93 lakh). Interestingly, Raghunath’s base price was only $13,900 (Rs 7.56 lakh).<br /><br />Sardar with India team-mate Sandeep Singh, Australian Jamie Dwyer, Dutch legend Teun De Nooijer and German Mortiz Fuertse were the marquee players of the league. Dwyer was bought by Jaypee Punjab Warriors for $60,000, Fuertse by Ranchi Rhinos for $75,500 and Nooijer by Uttar Pradesh Wizards for $66,000.<br /><br />But Sandeep, who is out of the team after a poor show at the London Olympics, was sold to Mumbai Magicians for a base price of $27,800. But thanks to Australian defender Joel Caroll, Sandeep will be getting a better pay package. Caroll was bought by Mumbai for $56,000 and as a marquee player Sandeep will be getting 15 percent more than the Australian.<br /><br />The biggest disappointment of the day was former India captain and goalkeeper Bharat Chettri going unsold. The Kalimpong boy had a reserve price of $18,550.<br /><br />Chettri, who led India to a last-place finish at the London Olympics, was dropped from the national squad after the Games.<br /><br />India’s other two goalkeepers got a good deal. First choice goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, with a reserve price of $13,900, was sold to Mumbai Magicians for $38,000 while PT Rao, who made an impressive debut at the age of 34 at the Champions Trophy, was also sold to Mumbai for $17,000. Rao had a reserve price of $5,600.<br /><br />Other important Indian players sold at the auction were SV Sunil (Punjab for $42,000), Yuvraj Walmiki (Delhi for $18,000), and Shivendra Singh (Punjab for $27,500).<br /><br />Mumbai’s Tushar Khandkar was sold for only $100 more than his reserve price of $13,900 to Uttar Pradesh while SK Uthappa went to the same team for $25,000 and Gurbaj Singh to Delhi for $36,000.<br /><br />Seasoned campaigner Ignace Tirkey, who had a reserve price of $13,900, went to Punjab for $31,000 while young defender Rupinder Pal Singh, with a base price of $9,250, was sold to Uttar Pradesh for $56,000.<br /><br />The only Briton in the auction, Ashley Jackson, was another big gainer, going home with a purse of $73,000 -- a good buy for the Ranchi Rhinos.<br /><br />Unlike cricket’s Indian Premier League (IPL), there were no problems with the auction of Pakistani players as the Mumbai franchise bought Fareed Ahmed for $21,000 and Mohammed Rashid for $41,000.<br /><br />“I am extremely delighted that I have been able to command a good price,” said a delighted Sardar. “I wasn’t aware about my price as I arrived late for the auction. By the time I reached here, I was already sold,” Sardar said with a smile of contentment.<br /><br />All teams were given a purse of $650,000. Each team will comprise 24 players -- 14 Indians and 10 overseas. The league will be held in five cities from January 17, 2013.</p>