Indian national team captain Sardar Singh turned out to be damp squib as he bagged just USD 58,000, even as Germany's Moritz Fuerste drew the highest ever bid in the history of Hockey India League auctions after he was bought by Kalinga Lancers for a whopping USD 1,05,000 here today.
The other Germans to have drawn the attention of the teams is striker Florian Fuchs, who was picked up by Dabang Mumbai for USD 96,000 against his base price of USD 20,000 and midfielder Tobias Hauke, who was purchased by Uttar Pradesh Wizards for USD 96,000 against his base price of USD 25,000.
Indian drag flicker Rupinder Pal Singh and striker Dharanvir Singh were more in demand than Sardar as they bagged USD 68,000 and USD 60,000, respectively from Delhi Waveriders and Kalinga Lancers against their base prices of USD 20,000 each.
After a rather slow start to the auctions that saw only two players from lot one being picked in Vikramjeet Singh (USD 4,500 Ranchi Rays) and Australian Kieron Govers (USD 36,000 Dabang Mumbai), Sardar's name -- the first on lot two -- created a buzz among the franchises with Uttar Pradesh Wizards and Punjab Warriors going head to head for the 29-year-old star midfielder.
With a base price of USD 20,000, Sardar was eventually bought by the Warriors for only USD 58,000, which turned out to be much less than the amount he garnered in the inaugural edition. He was sold for USD 78,000 to Delhi Waveriders in 2012 before the franchise released him this year.
The highlight of the second lot was the 23-year-old FIH Young Player of the Year Fuchs, regarded as one of the sport's most lethal strikers in world hockey. Fuchs was on the radar of every franchise and he quickly went past Sardar's price with UP Wizards, Mumbai and the Lancers bidding vigorously for the young German.
In the end, Mumbai picked him up for a hefty price of USD 96,000.
But it was Fuchs' Germany team-mate Fuerste, an Olympic gold medallist, who bagged the highest price as he was purchased for USD 1,05,00 against his base price of USD 30,000. Initially it was three-way fight among the Delhi Waveriders, UP Wizards and Dabang Mumbai vying for his services, but in the end the Lancers pulled off a late heist with their record bid.
