Pro Kabaddi auction : Sachin emerged as the most expensive player on the first day of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 11 Players Auction-2024 held by Mashal Sports on August 15 in Mumbai. He was bought by Tamil Thalaivas for Rs 2.15 crore. Meanwhile, Iranian all-rounder Mohammadreza Shadlooi Chayaneh emerged as the most expensive foreign player in the Pro Kabaddi League Player Auction. He was bought by Haryana Steelers for Rs 2.07 crore. He became the first foreign player to be bought for more than Rs 2 crore in consecutive player auctions. 12 franchise teams bought a total of 20 players. 3 Final Bid Match Cards were used on the first day. Bengal Warriors, Telugu Titans, and Gujarat Giants used the Final Bid Match Cards for Maninder Singh, Pawan Sehrawat, and Sombir.

PKL stars broke records

The auction saw a record number of players joining the Rs 1 crore club in PKL history. Sachin, Mohammadreza Shadlooi Chiyaneh, Guman Singh, Pawan Sehrawat, Bharat, Maninder Singh, Ajinkya Pawar, and Sunil Kumar were part of the Rs 1 crore club in today's player auction. U Mumba bought Sunil Kumar for Rs 1.015 crore and he became the most expensive Indian defender ever. Pardeep Narwal, the player with the most raid points in PKL history, was bought by Bengaluru Bulls for Rs 70 lakh. At the same time, experienced defender Surjeet Singh was bought by Jaipur Pink Panthers for Rs 60 lakh.

It is really exciting to see many records being broken.

Speaking on behalf of Mashal Sports, Mr. Anupam Goswami, League Commissioner, Pro Kabaddi League said, “It was really exciting to see several records being broken at the PKL Season 11 Players Auction. We are proud to see 8 players cross the Rs 1 crore mark today and Sunil became the most expensive Indian defender ever. The exciting buying will continue on Day 2 as well and we are eagerly looking forward to the action.” When asked about joining Bengaluru Bulls, PKL's most successful raider Pardeep Narwal said, “It feels really good to be back with the team I started my PKL journey with. I am looking forward to playing with the young players in the Bengaluru Bulls team. I hope to cross 1800 raid points in my career.”