HIL auction: Disappointing return for Sardar Singh as Germans steal the show

New Delhi Indian national team captain Sardar Singh turned out to be damp squib as he bagged just USD 58000 even as Germanys 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 105000 here todayThe other Germans to have drawn the attention of the teams is striker Florian Fuchs who was picked up by Dabang Mumbai for USD 96000 against his base price of USD 20000 and midfielder Tobias Hauke who was purchased by Uttar Pradesh Wizards for USD 96000 against his base price of USD 25000Indian drag flicker Rupinder Pal Singh and striker Dharanvir Singh were more in demand than Sardar as they bagged USD 68000 and USD 60000 respectively from Delhi Waveriders and Kalinga Lancers against their base prices of USD 20000 eachIndia captain Sardar SinghAfter a rather slow start to the auctions that saw only two players from lot one being picked in Vikramjeet Singh USD 4500 Ranchi Rays and Australian Kieron Govers USD 36000 Dabang Mumbai Sardars 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 29yearold star midfielderWith a base price of USD 20000 Sardar was eventually bought by the Warriors for only USD 58000 which turned out to be much less than the amount he garnered in the inaugural edition He was sold for USD 78000 to Delhi Waveriders in 2012 before the franchise released him this yearThe highlight of the second lot was the 23yearold FIH Young Player of the Year Fuchs regarded as one of the sports most lethal strikers in world hockey Fuchs was on the radar of every franchise and he quickly went past Sardars price with UP Wizards Mumbai and the Lancers bidding vigorously for the young GermanIn the end Mumbai picked him up for a hefty price of USD 96000 But it was Fuchs Germany teammate Fuerste an Olympic gold medallist who bagged the highest price as he was purchased for USD 10500 against his base price of USD 30000Initially it was threeway 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 During the 2012 auctions Fuerste was acquired by Ranchi Rhinos for USD 75000 and went on to captain the teamAnother German player Hauke was also high in demand as the Wizards the Waveriders and Mumbai bid vigorously for him Ultimately the Wizards availed his services by shelling out USD 96000 against his base price of USD 25000Australian midfielder Matthew Swann also demanded a good price as he was sold to Dabang Mumbai for USD 75000 against his base price of USD 20000It was the turn of goalkeepers in the sixth seventh eighth and ninth lots of the auction and Dutchman Nicolas Jacobi and Devon Manchester of New Zealand picked up the highest price of USD 27000 each against their base prices of USD 20000 and USD 15000 respectivelyWhile Jacobi was bought by Jaypee Punjab Warriors Manchester went to the Waveriders The Waveriders also picked up Harjot Singh as the second goalkeeper for his base price of USD 20000In the 10th and last lot before the lunch break young Indian striker Mandeep Singh demanded USD 70000 from the Waveriders in a tworace with Ranchi Rays His base price was USD 20000When Kalinga Lancers mentor Dillep Tirkey was asked about their decision to shell out such a record price for Fuerste he said it was a planned move In the last two HIL our performances were not good so came to the auction with a plan this year We want to make our team stronger We want to make our team around Fuerste He is a proven customer for Germany and we thought about it earlier that we will go for himOn why they didnt bid for Sardar Tirkey said Sardar is the best player of the Indian team but we couldnt fit him in our teamDabang Mumbai mentor Viren Rasquinha said it was logical that most of the teams went for German and Australian players because they are worldclass