Inside the KCL Auction: How All 8 Franchises Built Their Season 1 Squads

Inside the Kabaddi Champions League KCL Auction: How All 8 Franchises Built Their Season 1 Squads

The Kabaddi Champions League KCL Haryana's first-ever player auction, held in Gurugram on December 28, 2025, wasn't just about one record bid, it was eight separate strategies playing out in the same room, as franchises worked through a combined pool of 128 players to build the rosters that would carry them into Season 1. Here's how each of the eight teams shaped their squad on auction night.

Bhiwani Bulls: Built Around a Marquee Raider

Bhiwani made the loudest statement of the night, spending Rs 19.2 lakh on right raider Devank Dalal, the highest bid of the entire auction. They rounded out their roster with a clear defensive plan, adding Hitesh Kadian for Rs 7 lakh, Deepak Singh for Rs 5.6 lakh, and Pravesh Malik for Rs 5.4 lakh, giving their star raider a well-funded unit behind him.

Sonipat Stars: An Early, Decisive Spine

Sonipat moved quickly to secure left raider Ayan Lochab for Rs 18.4 lakh, the second-highest bid of the night, and used that early pick as the foundation of their squad. They filled out their roster with Navdeep Duhan for Rs 6.2 lakh and Mohit Kaushik for Rs 3.7 lakh, blending their marquee raider with promising depth pieces.

Faridabad Fighters: A Fan-Favourite Anchor

Faridabad landed defender Jaideep Dahiya for Rs 17.4 lakh, the auction's third-highest bid, building their identity around a player already known to Haryana audiences for his fearless style. They backed him up with Yogesh Dahiya for Rs 9.2 lakh, Ankit Jaglan for Rs 6.6 lakh, and Ghanshyam Roka Magar for Rs 2 lakh.

Karnal Kings: Investing in Defensive Experience

Karnal made the biggest defensive-first statement of the night, paying Rs 14.2 lakh for Sunil Kumar, a defender whose experience and cover-position versatility became the backbone Karnal chose to build the rest of their squad around.

Hisar Heroes: Backing a Proven Raider

Hisar spent Rs 12.2 lakh on raider Ashu Malik, a marquee pick built to lead their attacking plans. They supported him with Surjeet Singh for Rs 7.6 lakh, Nitesh Kumar for Rs 7 lakh, and Saurabh Nandal for Rs 4.8 lakh, rounding out a squad built for both flair and defensive cover.

Panipat Panthers: Betting on an All-Rounder

Panipat's headline pick was all-rounder Ankit Jaglan, secured for Rs 9.8 lakh, a strategic choice that gave them flexibility across raiding and defensive situations. They added Narender Kandola for Rs 7.2 lakh and Meetu Sharma for Rs 7 lakh to fill out a balanced roster.

Gurugram Gurus: A Game-Changer Up Front

The Gurus put their faith in right raider Neeraj Narwal, picking him up for Rs 9.6 lakh as the centrepiece of their attacking plans, before adding Sanjay Dhull for Rs 3.4 lakh to strengthen their supporting cast.

Rohtak Royals: Steady Investment Across the Board

Rohtak's top bid of the night went to Vijay Malik at Rs 9.4 lakh, and the franchise followed it with a series of measured picks, Rakesh Singroha for Rs 7.2 lakh, Sandeep Deswal for Rs 6 lakh, Aryan Kumar for Rs 5 lakh, and experienced defender Sandeep Narwal for Rs 3.4 lakh, building a squad with depth rather than a single standout price tag.

Eight Teams, One Shared Ambition

Taken together, the eight squads assembled that night in Gurugram tell a story bigger than any individual price tag. Every franchise, whether chasing a marquee raider like Bhiwani and Sonipat did, or investing in defensive steel like Karnal, walked away with a roster built for a genuine title fight, setting up a Season 1 that would go on to be decided by the narrowest of margins.

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