Interview Times 
BHUBANESWAR: The Hockey India League (HIL) made a triumphant return on Sunday after a seven-year break, kicking off its sixth season with an exciting player auction. India’s top hockey stars, including captain Harmanpreet Singh, vice-captain Hardik Singh, and young forward Abhishek Nain, emerged as the biggest earners on the opening day, each securing bids over Rs 70 lakh.
Harmanpreet, who was instrumental in India’s bronze medal win at the Paris Olympics in August and helped retain the Asian Champions Trophy in Hulunbuir, China, led the auction with a Rs 78 lakh bid from the JSW Sports-owned Soorma Hockey Club. Abhishek Nain followed closely, bagging Rs 72 lakh from Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, while Hardik Singh was picked up by UP Rudras for Rs 70 lakh.
The 2024-25 season marks a significant reset for HIL, with eight new teams as the franchises from previous seasons have been disbanded. This fresh start introduces a women’s tournament for the first time in HIL’s history, with the third day of the auction reserved for female players.
Full List of Players Sold in HIL 2024-25 Auction (Men’s Category):
Harmanpreet Singh — Soorma Hockey Club (Rs 78 lakh)
Abhishek Nain — Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers (Rs 72 lakh)
Hardik Singh — UP Rudras (Rs 70 lakh)
Gonzalo Peillat (Germany) — Hyderabad Toofans (Rs 68 lakh)
Jip Janssen (Netherlands) — Tamil Nadu Dragons (Rs 54 lakh)
Amit Rohidas — Tamil Nadu Dragons (Rs 48 lakh)
Jugraj Singh — Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers (Rs 48 lakh)
Manpreet Singh — Team Gonasika (Rs 42 lakh)
Sukhjeet Singh — Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers (Rs 42 lakh)
Shamsher Singh — Delhi SG Pipers (Rs 42 lakh)
Araijeet Singh Hundal — Team Gonasika (Rs 42 lakh)
Jeremy Hayward (Australia) — Soorma Hockey Club (Rs 42 lakh)
Vivek Sagar Prasad — Soorma Hockey Club (Rs 40 lakh)
Rajkumar Pal — Delhi SG Pipers (Rs 40 lakh)
Lars Balk (Netherlands) — UP Rudras (Rs 40 lakh)
Rohit — Delhi SG Pipers (Rs 40 lakh)
Sanjay — Kalinga Lancers (Rs 38 lakh)
Jarmanpreet Singh — Delhi SG Pipers (Rs 38 lakh)
Duco Telgenkamp (Netherlands) — Tamil Nadu Dragons (Rs 36 lakh)
Nilakanta Sharma — Hyderabad Toofans (Rs 34 lakh)
Dilpreet Singh — Kalinga Lancers (Rs 34 lakh)
Amir Ali — Team Gonasika (Rs 34 lakh)
Varun Kumar — Delhi SG Pipers (Rs 34 lakh)
Krishan B Pathak — Kalinga Lancers (Rs 32 lakh)
David Harte (Ireland) — Tamil Nadu Dragons (Rs 32 lakh)
Kane Russell (New Zealand) — UP Rudras (Rs 30 lakh)
Lalit Kumar Upadhyay — UP Rudras (Rs 28 lakh)
Jean-Paul Danneberg (Germany) — Hyderabad Toofans (Rs 27 lakh)
Mandeep Singh — Team Gonasika (Rs 25 lakh)
Pirmin Blaak (Netherlands) — Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers (Rs 25 lakh)
Florent van Aubel (Belgium) — Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers (Rs 25 lakh)
Dayaan Cassiem (South Africa) — Soorma Hockey Club (Rs 25 lakh)
Selvam Karthi — Tamil Nadu Dragons (Rs 24 lakh)
Vincent Vanasch (Belgium) — Soorma Hockey Club (Rs 23 lakh)
Suraj Karkera — Team Gonasika (Rs 22 lakh)
Jeroen Hertzberger (Netherlands) — Team Gonasika (Rs 21 lakh)
Shilanand Lakra — Hyderabad Toofans (Rs 21 lakh)
Boby Singh Dhami — Kalinga Lancers (Rs 20 lakh)
Mandeep Mor — Kalinga Lancers (Rs 19 lakh)
Gauthier Boccard (Belgium) — Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers (Rs 18 lakh)
Nilam Sanjeep Xess — Team Gonasika (Rs 17 lakh)
Oliver Payne (Great Britain) — Team Gonasika (Rs 15 lakh)
Pawan — Delhi SG Pipers (Rs 15 lakh)
Surender Kumar — UP Rudras (Rs 14 lakh)
Hayden Beltz (Australia) — Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers (Rs 13 lakh)
Álvaro Iglesias (Spain) — UP Rudras (Rs 12.50 lakh)
Rupinder Pal Singh — Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers (Rs 12.50 lakh)
Gurinder Singh — Soorma Hockey Club (Rs 11 lakh)
Yogember Rawat — Team Gonasika (Rs 11 lakh)
Tomas Santiago (Argentina) — Delhi SG Pipers (Rs 10 lakh)
Kothajit Singh — Tamil Nadu Dragons (Rs 10 lakh)
Birendra Lakra — Team Gonasika (Rs 10 lakh)
A Historic Comeback for HIL
The league, which debuted in 2013 and ran annually for four seasons, was paused after the fifth edition. During its earlier years, franchises like Ranchi Rhinos, Ranchi Rays, and Kalinga Lancers captured titles before the league went on hiatus. With India’s hockey team achieving back-to-back Olympic bronze medals, the HIL 2024-25 edition is expected to reignite excitement among fans.
