Belgium midfielder Victor Wegnez was the most expensive player on the second day of the Hockey India League auction, with Soorma Hockey Club paying Rs 40 lakh for his services. Other prominent overseas players who were sold included the Dutch tandem of Thierry Brinkman (Rs 38 lakh) and Arthur Van Doren (Rs 32 lakh) to the Kalinga Lancers. Tomas Domene (Rs 36 lakh to Delhi SG Pipers), Australia’s Aran Zalewski (Rs 27 lakh to Kalinga Lancers), and Blake Govers (Rs 27 lakh to Tamil Nadu Dragons) were the other big purchases.
Moriangthem Rabichandra, who went to Kalinga Lancers for Rs 32 lakh, was the most expensive Indian purchase of the day. Young players with a base price of Rs 2 lakh also made their mark at the auction, with Angad Bir Singh joining Kalinga Lancers for Rs 26 lakh and Rajinder joining Hyderabad Toofans for Rs 23 lakh.
On opening day, all eight organizations spent extensively to acquire the Indian men’s hockey team’s top players. Harmanpreet Singh, acquired by Soorma Hockey Club, was the most expensive purchase at the men’s HIL Player Auction, fetching Rs 78 lakh. Abhishek became the second-most expensive purchase, costing Rs 72 lakh to Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, while Hardik Singh was sold to UP Rudras for Rs 70 lakh. Germany’s Gonzalo Peillat became the most expensive international player, bought for Rs 68 lakh.