HIL 2026 Auctions: Henderson tops chart, Lakra steals the spotlight

New Delhi — The Hockey India League (HIL) men’s mini-auction for the 2026 season witnessed high drama in New Delhi on Wednesday, with franchises making aggressive moves to secure both international stars and promising juniors.

Australian forward Liam Henderson emerged as the costliest buy, bagged by Vedanta Kalinga Lancers for ?42 lakh, while India’s young goalkeeper Vivek Lakra stunned everyone by climbing from a base price of just ?2 lakh to a final hammer price of ?23 lakh, signed by Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers.

With over 100 players in the pool and a team purse cap of ?4 crore, squads were carefully constructed with a balance of seasoned internationals and emerging local talents. The Governing Council also announced that they would directly run the UP Rudras franchise this season, renaming it “HIL Governing Council” until a new owner is finalised.

Other key signings included Dutch star Sander de Wijn (?36 lakh to Tamil Nadu Dragons), Indian junior Adrohit Ekka (?11 lakh to Tamil Nadu), Ajeet Yadav (?11.5 lakh to Governing Council), and veteran drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh, who moved to SG Pipers for ?12 lakh.

The auctions also threw up a heartwarming story as 14-year-old Ketan Kushwaha was picked up by the Bengal Tigers for ?2.5 lakh, making him one of the youngest players ever to feature in the league.

The day reflected a clear strategy: while teams chased marquee internationals, they also heavily invested in juniors, underlining HIL’s push to nurture India’s next generation. With rosters now locked, franchises turn their focus to converting auction tactics into on-field victories when the season kicks off.

With inputs from IANS