UTTAR PRADESH KABADDI LEAGUE (UPKL), conceptualised and operated by SJ Uplift Kabaddi and sanctioned by the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi Association, has announced that the Season 2 player auction will take place on 3 November in Noida. The auction will be powered by CricBattle, an auction technology platform appointed as UPKL’s official auction partner.
Season 2 marks a major milestone for the league, which expands from eight to ten teams this year. Joining the competition are two new franchises, Aligarh Tigers and Kanpur Warriors, alongside returning sides Lucknow Lions, Yamuna Yoddha, Noida Ninja, Kashi Kings, Avadh Ramdoot, Bridge Stars, Sangam Challengers, and Ganga Kings of Mirzapur.
Each franchise will have a budget of Rs 12 lakh to build their full squad from a 500-player pool, shortlisted through UPKL’s scouting and registration process. The auction will feature four player categories — A, B, C, and D — based on experience and performance levels, with base prices set at Rs 1,00,000 (Category A), Rs 60,000 (Category B), Rs 40,000 (Category C), and Rs 25,000 (Category D). This represents a significant expansion from Season 1, which featured around 350 players.
The open-bid auction will be conducted live in the presence of franchise owners, team representatives, and league officials. Each team must assemble its squad in accordance with the official UPKL Auction Handbook, which mandates a balanced composition, a minimum of 3 players from Category A, 4 each from Categories B and C, and 3 from Category D.
The UPKL Season 2 is set to kick off on 25 December in Noida, featuring approximately 64 matches across the season.
SJ Uplift Kabaddi founder and director Sambhav Jain said, “The player auction is a defining moment for every franchise. With ten teams and a larger talent base this season, the event promises a deeper, more competitive structure. Our partnership with CricBattle ensures a transparent and technology-driven process that aligns with our commitment to professionalizing kabaddi at every level.”
CricBattle founder Rakesh Desai added, “We are pleased to collaborate with UPKL as its official auction partner. Our live auction platform is built to ensure precision, fairness, and efficiency, helping leagues like UPKL execute large-scale drafts seamlessly. This partnership also marks an important step in expanding CricBattle’s reach beyond cricket, aligning us with a credible and rapidly growing state league like UPKL that shares our vision for technology-driven.”
