The Pro Kabaddi League’s Season 12 player auction witnessed a historic day with Mohammadreza Shadloui becoming the first player to command over ₹2 crore three times in PKL history. The Iranian all-rounder was signed by Gujarat Giants for a whopping ₹2.23 crore, more than 50% of their remaining purse.
*Top Bids*
– *Mohammadreza Shadloui*: ₹2.23 crore (Gujarat Giants) – fourth most expensive player in PKL history
– *Devank Dalal*: ₹2.205 crore (Bengal Warriorz) – fifth most expensive player in PKL history and Best Raider in PKL 11
– *Ashu Malik*: ₹1.90 crore (Dabang Delhi K.C.) – retained by the team for two seasons using the Final Bid Match rule
*Other Notable Signings*
– *Arjun Deshwal*: ₹1.405 crore (Tamil Thalaivas)
– *Yogesh Dahiya*: ₹1.125 crore (Bengaluru Bulls)
– *Pawan Sehrawat*: ₹59.5 lakh (Tamil Thalaivas)
– *Bharat Hooda*: ₹81 lakh (Telugu Titans)
– *Deepak Rajender Singh*: ₹86 lakh (Patna Pirates) – retained for two seasons using the Final Bid Match rule
*Record-Breaking Day*
The player auction saw a record 10 players crossing the ₹1 crore mark, highlighting the growing popularity and competitiveness of the league. Anupam Goswami, Business Head, Mashal Sports & League Chairman, Pro Kabaddi League, praised the event, saying, “The PKL 12 Player Auction for Category A shows how performance plays a key role, with Shadloui and Devank being rewarded with exceptional bids of over ₹2 crore.”
*Impact of Final Bid Match Rule*
The new Final Bid Match rule allowed teams to retain released players by matching the final bid price for one or two seasons. This rule was used by Dabang Delhi K.C. to bring back Ashu Malik and by Patna Pirates to retain Deepak Rajender Singh. The rule is expected to bring more continuity and stability to team lineups.
