The Pro Kabaddi League auction has now concluded after a two-day journey that witnessed record-breaking amounts being spent on emerging stars. Over eight players were purchased for more than ₹1 crore on the first day alone, August 15th. Also, two players were sold for over ₹2 crore, highlighting the significant growth of the PKL. When this major kabaddi league started in 2014, the highest bid was just ₹12.80 lakh, which was secured by a former India captain, thanks to Patna Pirates, who built a formidable team with players like him. The Pirates are the most successful team in PKL history, having won 3 out of 8 titles. Similarly, the Telugu Titans, despite having mixed seasons in the PKL, Telugu Titans have often made high-profile purchases.
However, judging by auction trends over the years, it’s likely that these numbers will continue to rise. But now the question is, who is the real winner of the PKL auction in 2024? The answer is Sachin Tanwar, one of the finest raiders, who is now a Tamil Thalaivas player. The team picked him for a whopping ₹2.15 crore during the PKL 2024 auction on day one, making him the second-most expensive Indian player in the league’s history. Also, Haryana Steelers’ Mohammadreza Shadloui secured ₹2.07 crore.
Most expensive players in PKL history
| Player Name | Price (INR) | Year | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tanwar | 2.15 Crore | 2024 | Tamil Thalaivas |
| Pawan Sehrawat | 2.60 Crore | 2023 | Telugu Titans |
| Pawan Sehrawat | 2.26 Crore | 2022 | Tamil Thalaivas |
| Siddharth Desai | 1.30 Crore | 2021 | Telugu Titans |
| Monu Goyat | 1.51 Crore | 2018 | Haryana Steelers |
| Fazel Atrachali | 2.12 Crore | 2022 | Puneri Paltan |
| Rahul Chaudhari | 1.29 Crore | 2019 | Telugu Titans |
| Nitin Tomar | 1.20 Crore | 2018 | Puneri Paltan |
| Deepak Niwas Hooda | 1.15 Crore | 2019 | Jaipur Pink Panthers |
| Rishank Devadiga | 1.11 Crore | 2018 | UP Yoddha |
| Pradeep Narwal | 1.65 Crore | 2021 | UP Yoddha |
| Manjeet Chhillar | 75 Lakhs | 2015 | Bengaluru Bulls |
| Rakesh Kumar | 12.80 Lakhs | 2014 | Patna Pirates |
