Indian Super League Tastes the Thrill of Player Auction Before the 2015 Edition

In keeping with traditions in Europe and elsewhere in the world, the one-year old Indian Super League, ISL also had players being traded. Instead of calling such event as transfer, the ISL termed it as domestic player auctions. The auction of 10 of Indian football’s finest players was held at Mumbai on July 10, 2015 with every franchise attending it. By and large, players put on for auction, continued with their old clubs despite acquisition bids by others. The second ISL season will get underway on October 3, 2015 and the eight participants play each other twice in the home and away formats until December 6. The knock-out phase will begin on December 11 with the final on December 20, 2015. Last year, the tournament was won by Atletico de Kolkata, who defeated Kerala Blasters 1-0 in the final at Mumbai. If the 2014 ISL season was akin to getting a football feel in India, then the auction for the upcoming event shows the seriousness of the franchisee owners. What if India is no.154 in FIFA Rankings, India’s corporates, industrialists and film stars were ready to spend big on football. At Mumbai, several domestic players walked away with an unexpectedly high price. The player by player auction at Mumbai is described in the next paragraph.

Jackichand Singh: In the 2014 ISL Jacki played for Pune City and his base price was ₹2 million. But he was considered worth much more. FC Goa, North East United FC and Mumbai City FC wanted to get him but FC Pune City topped the bid with ₹4.5 million on the 23-year old Manipur winger.

Thoi Singh: The 24-year old Khangebam Thoi Singh also belongs to Manipur and he played as central midfielder for Chennaiyin FC in the 2014 ISL. Thoi had a base price of ₹3.9 million and Chennaiyin FC acquired him again for ₹8.6 million despite bids from Mumbai and North-east United.

Anas Edathodika: Delhi Dynamo midfielder Edathodika, a defender from the Indian state of Kerala had a base price of ₹4.0 million and Delhi won him back for ₹4.1 million, though Atletico de Kolkata also made a bid.

Eugeneson Lyngdoh: A midfielder from Shillong, Lyngdoh was heavily sought by different franchises during the Mumbai auctions. Lyngdoh played for FC Pune City in the last ISL and had a base price of ₹2.75 million but furious bids from Mumbai FC, Kerala Blasters, FC Goa and Atletico de Kolkata jacked up his price to ₹10.5 million before Pune City got him back.

Sunil Chhetri: 30-year old Chhetri was the Mumbai City striker in 2014 ISL. The Telangana star had a ₹8.5 million base price that went up to ₹12 million before Mumbai got him back. Delhi Dynamos also wanted him but Mumbai won in the end.

Arata Izumi: The Atletico de Kolkata midfielder Izumi is a 32-year old Japanese born Indian footballer. He had a base price of ₹4.0 million that went up to ₹6.8 million before the bids were closed in favor of Kolkata. Other clubs, who also made bids were; Mumbai City FC and North-East United FC.

Robin Singh: The auction of 25-year old Delhi Dynamos forward Robin Singh began with a base price of ₹4.0 million. Kerala Blasters made a higher bid but Delhi closed it with base price of ₹5.1 million.

Karanjit Singh: The Chennaiyin FC goalkeeper Karanjit Singh belongs to Hoshiarpur in Punjab. His base price in the auction was ₹6.0 million. Since there were no other bidders, Chennai acquired him at the same price.

Rino Anto: Atletico de Kolkata defender in last ISL, Anto is a Kerala footballer, whose base price was ₹1.75 million. Despite no other club bidding for him, Rino still went up to ₹9.0 million before Kolkata regained him.

Seityasen Singh: A right winger for North-East United FC in ISL 2014, the auction of Seityasen Singh began with a ₹2.0 million base price. His old club easily won him back for ₹5.6 million with no other club making the bid for him.

Apart from these auctions, there was also an instant trade, when FC Pune City decided to pay ₹1.1 million to Delhi Dynamos for 19-year-old Fanai Lalrempuia, who had a base price of ₹ 0.18 million. The Mizoram teenager couldn’t have asked for more in just one year.