Highlights:
- Aggressive bidding was observed on Day 1 of the Pro Kabaddi League 2022 auctions, followed by a quieter affair on Day 2.
- Over two days of fervent bidding, 130 players from a pool of 500 were sold to the twelve clubs
- While the franchises retained many players, five leading athletes went unsold.
Record-breaking offers were made on Day 1 of the two-day Pro Kabaddi 2022 auction, which concluded on Saturday, August 6. The second day of the PKL 2022 sale was less active. The League’s most expensive player, Pawan Kumar Sehrawat, was acquired by Tamil Thalaivas for a hefty Rs 2.26 crore, while Vikash Kandola went to Bengaluru Bulls for Rs 1.70 crore. The Pro Kabaddi League 2022 squad, team news, and other information from the 2022 auction are shown here.
Over two days of fervent bidding, 130 players from a pool of 500 were sold to the twelve clubs during the PKL 9 auctions at Mumbai’s Trident Marine Lines. Most teams entered the auction aiming to fill the voids after keeping their leading players. However, some entered with ambitions for a complete overhaul. There were likely to be a lot of unsold players because each squad could only have 18 and a maximum of 25 players.
Despite this, a few well-known figures have trouble landing a spot in any franchises. These five players failed to sell at the PKL 9 auctions.
Sandeep Narwal
Over the years, “The Beast” has represented five teams: Patna Pirates, Telugu Titans, Puneri Paltan, and U Mumba. He has consistently produced well, scoring over 100 points in the first season and never falling below 60 points thereafter. Sandeep was utilised as a right corner defender once his raiding skills started to decline, yet he continued to produce reliable returns. His tackle strike rate, which fell from the low 50s to 40% during his time with Dabang Delhi last season, was the only significant decline.
Rohit Kumar
In the heyday of the Patna Pirates, fan favourite Rohit Kumar was a force to be reckoned with. Additionally, he guided the Bengaluru Bulls to their first PKL championship. His quickly declining career numbers (231-171-100-18 over the past four seasons) tell volumes about how troubles off the court have affected an outstanding player. It was a painful pill to chew for Kabaddi fans everywhere to see him go unsold.
Prashanth Kumar Rai
Prashanth Kumar Rai was tasked with the selfless leadership of a band of well-oiled pirates, and he did an admirable job of it up until the finals. Prashanth scored 96 points despite being the third raider and contributing to the team’s success. Before joining UP Yoddha, he played for the Telugu Titans, Dabang Delhi, Haryana Steelers, and Haryana Steelers.
Ajay
Ajay, a good raider who cleverly operates under the radar, has been putting up vital stats since his first year with the Pink Panthers. He led a crop of brilliant young raiders at Gujarat Giants, passing on his knowledge, and his multi-point raids eventually became a defining characteristic. He might have made a solid second raider pick, but apparently, the clubs looked beyond his ability.
Hadi Oshtorak
The dependable Iranian right corner has consistently played in the PKL, first for the Titans and then for the Pirates, who he helped to back-to-back victories. Hadi had a second wind after rejoining the Patna Pirates in Season 7 following two unsuccessful seasons with U Mumba and Gujarat Giants, scoring 48 points in 22 games. The Iranian’s journey ended after another underwhelming season for Gujarat.