The ₹19.2 Lakh Bid That Defined KCL's Historic First Auction

The ₹19.2 Lakh Bid That Defined KCL's Historic First Auction

On the evening of December 28, 2025, in Gurugram, the Kabaddi Champions League (KCL) Haryana held its first-ever player auction, and by the time the bidding closed for the final time, the league had a headline it couldn't have scripted better. A total of 128 players were sold across the league's eight franchises that night, each backed by a purse of roughly Rs 4 crore, but one bidding war stood above every other in the room.

The Bid That Stopped the Room

Bhiwani Bulls walked away with the single biggest purchase of the auction, paying Rs 19.2 lakh to secure right raider Devank Dalal, a figure that made him not just Bhiwani's marquee signing but the most expensive player in KCL's inaugural auction. Known for his composure under pressure and his ability to change the course of a match, Devank was earmarked to lead Bhiwani's raiding attack for the season, and the scale of the investment reflected just how highly the franchise rated him heading into Season 1.

Speaking after the bidding closed, Dalal described being picked as the auction's top bid as a proud moment, adding that he was thankful for the franchise's trust and committed to playing fearless kabaddi for the team. Bhiwani's team management framed the pursuit as central to their entire auction strategy, building the rest of their defensive and raiding units specifically to complement their marquee man.

The Chase for Second Place

Devank Dalal's price tag didn't leave the rest of the night in the shade, it set off a chain reaction. Sonipat Stars moved early and decisively to lock down left raider Ayan Lochab for Rs 18.4 lakh, the second-highest bid of the evening, using him as the spine around which they built the rest of their roster. Faridabad Fighters weren't far behind, landing defender Jaideep Dahiya for Rs 17.4 lakh to anchor their backline, a player already known to Haryana crowds for his fearless, fan-favourite style of play.

A Night of Big-Money Defensive Buys Too

While raiders dominated the top of the leaderboard, the auction also handed out serious money to defensive talent. Karnal Kings paid Rs 14.2 lakh for Sunil Kumar, a defender whose experience and versatility across cover positions made him one of the night's standout defensive picks. Hisar Heroes, meanwhile, spent Rs 12.2 lakh on raider Ashu Malik, a marquee signing brought in to shoulder major raiding responsibility for the franchise through the season.

Building Eight Squads in One Night

By the time all eight franchises, Bhiwani Bulls, Sonipat Stars, Faridabad Fighters, Karnal Kings, Hisar Heroes, Rohtak Royals, Gurugram Gurus, and Panipat Panthers, had filled out their rosters, the auction had done more than assign players to teams. It had set the storylines for the season to come: a Bhiwani side built around one marquee raider, a Sonipat unit anchored early, and a league-wide push for defensive talent that would shape just how tightly contested the group stage turned out to be.

Follow the Kabaddi Champions League (KCL) website for further updates on the league's growth and everything building toward Season 2.