 "Udita Duhan (Centre) became the costliest buy at the Hockey India League women's auction after she was acquired for Rs 32 lakh by Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers. PTI")
India defender Udita Duhan emerged as the most expensive buy at the Hockey India League 2024-25 women’s player auction in New Delhi on Tuesday. Udita was acquired by Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for Rs 32 lakh. Dutch star Yibbi Jansen was the costliest overseas player, bought for Rs 29 lakh by Odisha Warriors. All four women’s franchises assembled strong squads for the inaugural season, scheduled to take place in Ranchi later this year.
Promising young Indian players Lalremsiami (for Rs 25 lakh to Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers), Sunelita Toppo (for Rs 24 lakh to Delhi SG Pipers), and Sangita Kumari (for Rs 22 lakh to Delhi SG Pipers) attracted significant attention from the franchises.
Hockey India League auction | Full list of sold players
Among the current Indian women’s hockey core group, Salima Tete (Rs 20 lakh) and Savita (Rs 20 lakh) were bought by Soorma Hockey Club, while Delhi SG Pipers acquired Navneet Kaur for Rs 19 lakh.
Meanwhile, several overseas players, including Belgium’s Charlotte Englebert (for Rs 16 lakh to Soorma Hockey Club), Germany’s Charlotte Stapenhorst (for Rs 16 lakh to Soorma Hockey Club), and Australia’s Jocelyn Bartram (for Rs 15 lakh to Odisha Warriors) were the notable buys.
After approving a request from unsold players of the Indian senior women’s and junior women’s teams to reduce their base price to 2 lakh, players such as Madhuri Kindo (for Rs 3.40 lakh to Odisha Warriors), Jyoti Chhatri (for Rs 5 lakh to Odisha Warriors), Deepika Soreng (for Rs 2.20 lakh to Soorma Hockey Club), and Rutuja Dadaso Pisal (for Rs4.90 lakh to Odisha Warriors), among others, secured their place in the inaugural edition of the Women’s HIL.
List of top five buys
Udita - Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers – Rs 32.00 lakh
Yibbi Jansen (NED) - Odisha Warriors – Rs 29.00 lakh
Lalremsiami - Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers – Rs 25.00
Sunelita Toppo - Delhi SG Pipers – Rs 24.00 lakh
Sangita Kumari - Delhi SG Pipers– Rs 22.00 lakh