Sachin Tanwar becomes most expensive player in PKL 11, who are the other crorepatis?
The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) continues to grow, and the Season 11 player auction showcased the increasing popularity of the league. Over two days of intense bidding on 15th and 16th August 2024, 118 players were sold, and for the first time in PKL history, eight players crossed the ₹1 crore mark.
The auction saw some record-breaking bids, Tamil Thalaivas acquired the services of Sachin Tanwar for a whopping ₹2.15 crore. Sachin became the most expensive player in the PKL 11. It will be interesting to see how he justifies this price tag on the mat.
Similarly, Mohammadreza Shadlou Chiyaneh, who hails from Iran, became the most expensive foreign player in the PKL Season 11 auction. The Haryana Steelers acquired him for ₹2.07 crore, although it was slightly lower than his last season's bid (₹2.35 crore). Shadlou's inclusion in the Haryana Steelers is expected to make their defence even more stronger.
Sunil Kumar, a well-known name in the league, was bought up by U Mumba for ₹1.015 crore, making him the most expensive Indian defender ever. This purchase highlights the crucial role that defence plays in kabaddi.
The other players who crossed, the ₹1 crore mark are Pawan Sehrawat (₹1.725 Cr) bought by Telugu Titans, Bharat Hooda (₹1.30 Cr) taken by UP Yoddhas, Maninder Singh (₹1.15 Cr) snapped by Bengal Warriorz, Guman Singh (₹1.97 Cr) bought by Gujarat Giants, and Ajinkya Pawar (₹1.107 Cr).
Among the Category C players, Ajith V Kumar stood out, attracting a bid of ₹66 lakh from Puneri Paltan. Ajith's performance in the previous seasons has been promising, and this significant bid reflects the potential that teams see in him.
In Category D, Arjun Rathi became the highest bid player, with Bengal Warriorz acquiring him for ₹41 lakh. Though Category D players are generally considered emerging talents, the bidding for Arjun Rathi shows that teams are keen on identifying and securing promising players early in their careers.
The PKL 11 player auction highlighted the growing popularity of Kabaddi as a sport. Growing popularity has also increased the financial stakes involved. This auction has set the stage for an exciting and thrilling season. As teams prepare for the new season, fans will be eager to see how these highest-paid players perform and whether they can justify their price tag.
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