PKL auction day 2: Iranian Bastami goes for big bucks; old stars struggle with takers and bids

With Jaideep Dahiya and Mohit Nandal already guarding its defense, the Steelers have added Bastami to further boosted their back three, making them one of the best defensive sides in the upcoming season.

Published : Aug 06, 2022 20:12 IST

Nitin Chandel, who plays right corner was the most expensive signing in category D, fetching 19 lakhs and will don the Panthers’ jersey next season.  
Nitin Chandel, who plays right corner was the most expensive signing in category D, fetching 19 lakhs and will don the Panthers’ jersey next season.   | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
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Nitin Chandel, who plays right corner was the most expensive signing in category D, fetching 19 lakhs and will don the Panthers’ jersey next season.   | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Iranians continue to be the flavour of the Pro Kabaddi League with defender Amirhossein Bastami leading the price list on day 2 of the PKL auction on Saturday. Bastami was acquired by Haryana Steelers for Rs. 65.10 Lakh making him the costliest buy of day 2 of the auction exercise in Mumbai.

PKL auction, DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS

Attention remained on Pawan Sehrawat, who on Friday became the most expensive signing ever in Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) history. The star said he wants to win the league for Tamil Thalaivas.

“I haven’t won the PKL for a team other than Bengaluru Bulls. When I joined Gujarat Giants, we lost in the final (in the fifth season in 2017), so I want to win PKL this time around for Tamil Thalaivas,” Sehrawat said while addressing the media on Saturday, the last day of the auction.

While Sehrawat, who fetched a whopping Rs. 2.26 crore - more than half of a team’s salary purse - after fierce bidding on Day One, the concluding day of the auction saw an Iranian emerge as the highest paid on the second day.

Starting at a base price of Rs. 10 lakh, Bastami saw UP Yoddhas and Dabang Delhi involved in the initial round of bidding for defender Amirhossein Bastami. Once Giants pulled out after the Rs. 50 lakh-mark, Haryana Steelers entered and added the Iranian to its squad for Rs. 65.10 lakh.

Among the Indians, Ravi Kumar took home Rs. 64.10 (Dabang Delhi K.C. while Neeraj Narwal (Rs. 43 lakh, Bengaluru Bulls) and Rinku Narwal (Rs. 40 lakh, Gujarat Giants) took home hefty sums.

Meanwhile, Randhir Singh, the Bengaluru Bulls head coach who has unearthed multiple PKL stars, said that he was glad to see Vikash Khandola replacing Sehrawat as the Bulls’ prized catch from the auction.

“Vikash was after me since last year that he wanted to be under my wings. I am happy it’s happened,” said Randhir after Khandola was bought on the opening night for Rs. 1.70 crore.

A total of 130 players were sold during the two-day auction. The dates for the ninth season are yet to be finalised.

AUCTION GUIDE:

Pro Kabaddi League 9 auction HIGHLIGHTS, Day 1

Here is the complete list of players sold at the auction

Who is Amir Hossein Bastami?

Who is Pawan Sehrawat, PKL’s most expensive player ever

The rise and fall of Siddharth Desai

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