India captain Sardar Singh, five-time world hockey player of the year Jamie Dwyer of Australia, talismanic German midfielders Moritz Furste and Tobias Hauke will be among the 276 players who will be part of the Hockey India League (HIL) players' auction to be held here on September 17.
Out of the listed players, 135 are home-grown while the rest are foreigners.
Centre-half Sardar, who captained Delhi Waveriders (DWR) to the title in 2014, was released by the Capital's franchise. Playmaker Dwyer, 36, played for Jaypee Punjab Warriors (JPW) for three years before the Chandigarh-based side released the Australian.
Waveriders also released defender-dragflicker Rupinderpal Singh, forwards Akashdeep Singh, Danish Mujtaba and German goalkeeper Nicolas Jacobi. The quartet will also be on the radar of the franchisees.
Apart from Dwyer, JPW released experienced players like Kieran Govers, Sandeep Singh, Lucas Rey, Dharamvir Singh and Simon Orchard and they are also expected to be picked.
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Uttar Pradesh Wizards (UPW) released two important young Indian internationals -- Nikkin and Nithin Thimmaiah along with midfielder S.K. Uthappa giving a good option for the franchises to bid for the released attackers.
Not retaining the dependable Australian goalkeeper George Bazeley by the Wizards makes the upcoming auction more interesting as the choice to pick up from experienced custodians increases. Also with Pardeep Mor available for the auction, the young defender will also prove to be a good pick for the franchisees.
The release of Chinglensana Singh by Dabang Mumbai gives many the option to get him on board with the hope that he will provide goals like he did last season. Also with Mathew Swann and Glenn Turner set to feature in the auction, the franchisees will not mind having the experience of the Australian attackers at their disposal.
Kalinga Lancers released foreigners Gonzalo Peillat, Glenn Simpson and Lucas Villa, which will make the auction interesting. In Harjot Singh, the franchises will have a world class goalkeeper to bid for.
Post making the choice of holding back their six key players, Ranchi Rays had to release names like Trent Mitton, Furste, Austin Smith, Justin Reid-Ross along with Sushant Tirkey, Mandeep Singh and Stanli Victor Minz.
Apart from the released players from each team, many new players will also be available through the bidding process for the first time. Young and agile goalkeeper Akash Chikte, who made many heads turn during this year's 5th Hockey India National Championship, along with Sunil Yadav will have every franchisee actively bidding for them.
Yadav has scored 10 goals for his state team this year.
Apart from these names, young Indian internationals like Jasjit Singh Kular, Gurwinder Singh Chandi, Malak Singh, Affan Yousuf and Amit Rohidas will also feature in the auction.
From reigning Olympic champions Germany, former world players of the years -- Furste and Hauke, forwards Florian Fuchs, Oliver Korn, Christopher Ruhr, Mats Grambush, Jaan Philippe Rabente and goalkeeper Jacobi will go under the hammer.
New Zealanders Stephen Jenness, Hugo Inglis, Nick Wilson, veteran Phil Burrows, Arun Panchia, Ryan Archibald, Shea McAleese, Andrew Hayward and Devon Manchester will also be part of the auction to be conducted by auctioneer Bob Hayton of London.
In the last few years, Argentina have grown into a strong team -- the highlight being the bronze medal at the 2014 World Cup. Their players -- Juan Manuel Vivaldi, Juan Ignacio Gilardi, Peillat, Matias Rey, Pedro Ibarra, Lucas Rey, Juan Martin Lopez, Agustin Mazilli, Matias Paredes, Facunbdo Callioni -- could be hot properties.
HIL's costliest player -- star Belgian striker Tom Boon with $103,000 -- won't go under the hammer despite being released by Mumbai.