BackPro Kabaddi League scores big figures on player auction
The auction for Season Four of the league netted a total price of `12.8 crore for 96 players from a list of 198 players
PremiumThe highest bid for this year’s auction was for player Mohit Chhillar who was pulled in by the Bengaluru Bulls for `53 lakh against the base price of `12 lakh. Photo: HT
Mumbai: The Pro Kabaddi League, which is based on the format of IPL T20, has managed to put out some impressive numbers for the player auction held in Mumbai on Friday.
The auction for Season Four of the league netted a total price of ₹ 12.8 crore for 96 players from a list of 198 players, indicating increasing interest in the sport in a short span of two years.
The highest bid for this year’s auction was for player Mohit Chhillar who was pulled in by the Bengaluru Bulls for ₹ 53 lakh against the base price of ₹ 12 lakh.
This is a four-fold increase over what Rakesh Kumar of Mumbai-based franchise U Mumba—the highest paid player in Season 1—was paid ( ₹ 12.8 lakh) and more than double of what international player Hadi Oshtorak fetched as the highest paid player during the international draft in Season 2 ( ₹ 21.1 lakh).
“There is no doubt that the Pro Kabaddi League is massively successful. You know it’s a good property because it has registered sustainable growth across all parameters, whether it is in terms of television viewership, team sponsorship, or otherwise. As far as player fees are concerned, forget ₹ 53 lakh, players earning even ₹ 1 lakh for the game was unheard of a few years ago. The total prize money for a local tournament would be in the range of ₹ 2-3 lakh. Today, players charge that kind of money just for making (celebrity) appearances. The league has changed the economics of the game," said Indranil Das Blah, chief operating officer at entertainment marketing firm Kwan Entertainment and Marketing Solutions.
This year top five players in the overseas category saw high interest from all franchisees. Fazel Atrachali from Iran went to Patna Pirates for ₹ 38 lakh. South Korean star player Jang Kun Lee was retained by Bengal Warriors for ₹ 22 lakh.
Hadi Oshtorak, the highest paid player from Season 2 by Telugu Titans, kept up his impressive run in Pro Kabaddi and was pulled in by Patna Pirates for ₹ 8 lakh.
Iranian all-rounder Meraj Sheykh went to Dabang Delhi K.C. for ₹ 19 lakh.
“Over the last three years, Star India has led the way in showing that India is ready to be a multi-sport nation. A particularly successful example of this phenomenon is the growth of Kabaddi over the last 20+ months," said Nitin Kukreja, chief executive for Star Sports.
To be sure, the league has registered fairly phenomenal growth across the board. According to the ESP Properties-SportzPower report released this year, ground sponsorships for the Pro Kabaddi League grew fourfold, albeit on a relatively small base, as revenue expanded to ₹ 48 crore in 2015, despite the absence of a title sponsor. In terms of on-air sponsorships, the league pulled in ₹ 45 crore for broadcaster Star Sports.
Viewership for the league has also grown steadily over the last few seasons. “The first season was seen by 430 million people, again this was the TAM benchmark. If you look at it just in terms of engagement and now where we are in the new world order of measurement, you can say that on a like-to-like basis, kabbadi grew from season one to season two by 20%, and from season two to season three by 35%," Kukreja said in an earlier interview, adding that if there were any concerns around overkill, with two seasons of the game each year, it has been laid to rest.
Franchises were given an option to retain two of their existing players. The key Indian players retained by franchises include Manjeet Chhillar and raider Deepak Niwas Hooda for Puneri Paltan.
The charismatic captain cool of U Mumba, Anup Kumar and Rishank Devadiga were retained by the team.
Dabang Delhi K.C. decided to hold Kashiling Adake, who will be playing his 4th season for the team along with young raider Selvamani K.
Rahul Chaudhari and Sukesh Hegde will once again represent the Telugu Titans while Jaipur Pink Panthers have retained Rajesh Narwal and Jasvir Singh.
Bengal Warriors retained Nilesh Shinde and Girish Maruti Ernak.
Bengaluru Bulls retained Pawan Kumar and Ashish Kumar.
Winners of Season 3, Patna Pirates retained Pardeep Narwal and Rajesh Mondal, leaving their winning captain in the auction pool.
Interestingly, in a bid to promote and identify talent from across the country, the franchisees will pick and host three young players who will be trained alongside with the squad.
These players will be treated as potential talent in the age group of 18-22 and necessarily should have never played in a league before. They will have a franchisee commitment of two seasons.
Top 5 contracted players – Pro Kabaddi season 4
Mohit Chhillar joins Bengaluru Bulls from U Mumba for ₹ 53 lakh
Sandeep Narwal joins Telugu Titans from Patna Pirates for ₹ ₹ 45.5 lakh
U Mumba retains Jeeva Kumar for ₹ ₹ 40 lakh
Fazel Atrachali joins Patna Pirates from U Mumba for ₹ ₹ 38 lakh
Jasmer Singh Gulia joins Telugu Titans from Puneri Paltan for ₹ ₹ 35.5 lakh
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