The second season of the Hockey India League (HIL) mini-auction was buzzing with excitement, as Australian midfielder Liam Henderson emerged as the most expensive acquisition. However, it was 14-year-old Ketan Kushwaha who truly stole the show, becoming the youngest player ever drafted onto a team roster. Young talent proved to be the undeniable highlight of the bidding event.
Liam Henderson, a 22-year-old Australian who recently debuted internationally in the Pro League, was secured by Kalinga Lancers for an impressive ₹42 lakh. This fierce bidding battle with Delhi SG Pipers solidified his position as one of the most costly foreign players in HIL history.
Meanwhile, the spotlight shone brightly on Ketan Kushwaha when Shrachi Bengal Tigers successfully acquired him for ₹2.5 lakh. This makes him an unprecedented figure, the youngest player to join any professional league globally. A shining product of the Lucknow Sports Hostel, Kushwaha has been consistently making a name for himself in various age-group domestic competitions for the past few years. Hailing from Jhansi, he proudly carries forward the city’s rich hockey legacy, previously honored by legends like Dhyan Chand, Ashok Kumar, and Tushar Khandker.
Other notable acquisitions included seasoned Dutch defender Sander de Wijn, who joined Tamil Nadu Dragons, and German midfielder Thies Prinz, snapped up by HIGC, both for ₹36 lakh each. Australian striker Cooper Burns, 23, also commanded a significant sum of ₹34.50 lakh from Kalinga Lancers.
On the women’s side, Argentine defender Agustina Gorzelany set a new record, becoming the league’s most expensive female player after being signed for ₹42 lakh by Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers. Argentine players were exceptionally popular, with the top three women’s bids all going to members of ‘Las Leonas,’ one of world hockey’s most formidable teams. Forward María José Granatto was picked by Delhi SG Pipers for ₹34 lakh, and defender Valentina Raposo Ruiz de los Llanos joined Gorzelany at SRBT for ₹30 lakh. Among Indian talents, experienced midfielder Monika, who had surprisingly gone unsold last year, became the highest Indian women’s acquisition at ₹15 lakh.
In other developments, with insufficient time to onboard a new franchise, the HIL Governing Council took over the management of the UP Rudras team for the upcoming season. This ensures that the league will proceed with eight teams as planned, with the team now operating under the name HILGC and managed directly by Hockey India.