FRANCHISES IN THE HERO HOCKEY INDIA LEAGUE (HIL) finalised their squads during a closed-door mini auction in New Delhi, with overseas player Liam Henderson and India’s junior talent Vivek Lakra emerging as the standout buys.
More than 100 male players went under the hammer, with teams making strategic yet bold moves to build their rosters for the upcoming season. Operating under a salary cap of Rs 4 crore, franchises focused on striking the right balance between international experience, promising juniors, and specialists such as goalkeepers and drag-flickers.
Participating franchises included the HIL Governing Council (temporarily replacing UP Rudras until a new owner is confirmed), Hyderabad Toofans, JSW Soorma Hockey Club, Ranchi Royals, SG Pipers, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, Tamil Nadu Dragons, and Vedanta Kalinga Lancers.
Henderson commanded the highest price of the auction, with Vedanta Kalinga Lancers securing his services for Rs 42 lakh. The Netherlands’ Sander de Wijn went to Tamil Nadu Dragons for Rs 36 lakh, while the HIL Governing Council picked up Thies Prinz for the same amount.
The biggest surprise of the day came when Indian junior goalkeeper Vivek Lakra, who entered with a base price of just Rs 2 lakh, attracted fierce bidding from multiple franchises. Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers eventually signed him for an impressive Rs 23 lakh, marking one of the most talked-about stories of the session.
The auction underscored the league’s growing emphasis on nurturing young Indian talent, with players such as Lakra, Ekka, and Kushwaha drawing strong interest, while proven internationals like Henderson and de Wijn ensured squads retained valuable global experience.
