Franchises Spend Big on Overseas, Junior Talents as Hero HIL 2026 Men’s Auction Concludes Successfully

The Hero Hockey India League (HIL) 2026 Men’s Auction concluded in the capital on Wednesday with franchises making aggressive moves to secure both overseas stars and emerging Indian talent. Over 100 players went under the hammer in the high-energy closed-door session, with teams working within a salary cap of ₹4 crore to finalize their squads.

Australian midfielder Liam Henderson emerged as the most expensive buy of the day, going to Vedanta Kalinga Lancers for ₹42 lakh. Among junior players, 17-year-old goalkeeper Vivek Lakra stunned observers when Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers secured him for a massive ₹23 lakh, making him the costliest junior signing.

Other top picks included Dutch defender Sander de Wijn, bought by Tamil Nadu Dragons for ₹36 lakh, and Germany’s Thies Prinz, who went to the HIL Governing Council team (formerly UP Rudras) for the same amount. Australian forward Cooper Burns also fetched a strong bid of ₹34.5 lakh from the Lancers.

The auctions highlighted a clear strategy shift among franchises, with juniors such as Adrohit Ekka (₹11 lakh, Tamil Nadu Dragons), Ajeet Yadav (₹11.5 lakh, HIL Governing Council), and 14-year-old forward Ketan Kushwaha (₹2.5 lakh, Bengal Tigers) drawing significant interest.

Veteran Indian drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh, who captained Bengal Tigers to their previous title win, was snapped up by SG Pipers for ₹12 lakh, adding experience to their roster.

Meanwhile, the HIL Governing Council officially took charge of the UP Rudras franchise, which will compete under its management until a new owner steps in.

With strong bids for both seasoned internationals and promising Indian youngsters, the 2026 auction underscored franchises’ dual focus on global experience and homegrown potential. The stage is now set for an action-packed HIL season as teams translate their auction strategies into on-field performance.