The Pro Kabaddi League player auction is much more than a contest between franchises trying to sign the biggest names. Behind every raised paddle is a decision about money, team balance, player roles and future planning. With the total player purse set at ₹5 crore per franchise, teams have to think carefully before making a major bid. A single expensive signing can change the entire shape of a squad, especially when the team still needs to complete a roster of at least 18 players. 1xBet analyst Vikram Singh sees the auction as a battle where smart spending can often be more important than spending the most. The biggest question for every franchise is simple: should it build around one superstar or spread the money across several players who can strengthen the entire team?
The PKL Auction Is a Battle of Money and Planning
The PKL auction room can be an intense place. Coaches, team officials and support staff sit around tables while player names appear one after another. Laptops and team data help officials track their purse and understand the needs of their squad. At the same time, coaches such as Manpreet Singh, Randhir Singh Sehrawat and BC Ramesh have to make quick decisions while other franchises try to predict their plans.
This creates an environment where information is never complete. A team may know that another franchise needs a raider, but it may not know how much that franchise is ready to spend. A player who appears to be worth ₹80 lakh can suddenly move beyond ₹1 crore if two teams decide that he is important to their plans. The auction therefore becomes a test of patience as much as player evaluation.
Category A players can attract huge attention because they enter the auction with high base prices and strong records. When these players come early, teams must decide whether to spend immediately or wait for other options. Spending too much at the start can leave a franchise with limited money later, while waiting too long can mean losing the player it wanted most.
This is one of the biggest differences between the PKL auction and normal team selection. A franchise doesn’t just need talented players. It needs players who fit together. Kabaddi requires constant involvement from the players on the mat, so an injury or poor run of form for one key player can have a major effect on the whole team.
Understanding the ₹5 Crore Purse
Every PKL franchise works with a salary purse of ₹5 crore. This is a major increase from the earlier purse of ₹4.4 crore, but the higher amount does not remove the pressure. Teams still have to fill a minimum of 18 players and can have a maximum of 25 players. They also need at least two overseas players and can have up to four foreign players.
The first major challenge comes when a franchise spends a huge amount on one player. Imagine a team paying ₹2.3 crore for a star. That player alone takes up almost half of the entire purse. The franchise then has to find enough money for at least 17 more players. Even if several players are signed close to their base prices, a large part of the purse disappears quickly.
This is where squad planning becomes important. A franchise cannot think only about its starting seven. It also needs substitutes who can step in when injuries, suspensions or poor form affect the main team. A strong bench can be the difference between surviving a long season and falling away after a good start.
There are two broad ways to use the ₹5 crore purse. One is the top-heavy approach, where a team spends a huge amount on one or two stars and then looks for cheaper players to complete the squad. The other is a balanced approach, where the franchise spreads its money across several players and tries to create strength in every position.
As analysed by 1xBet analyst Vikram Singh, a top-heavy team can be exciting because it may have one of the best raiders or defenders in the league. However, it can also become dependent on those players. A balanced team may not have the most expensive name in the auction, but it can have better depth and more options across a long season.
How the 2 Crore Club Changed PKL Auctions
The rise of the 2 Crore Club is one of the clearest signs of how much the PKL player market has grown. In Season 1, Rakesh Kumar was the top buy at ₹12.80 lakh. By Season 5, Nitin Tomar had reached ₹93 lakh. Fazel Atrachali became the first crore player in Season 6 when he was bought for ₹1 crore.
The market then moved to another level. Pawan Sehrawat was bought by the Tamil Thalaivas for ₹2.26 crore in Season 9, becoming the first player to cross ₹2 crore. In Season 10, he created another record when the Telugu Titans paid ₹2.605 crore for him. Mohammadreza Shadloui also crossed ₹2 crore in Season 10 when Puneri Paltan bought him for ₹2.35 crore.
The ₹2 crore mark is not just a big number. It represents a huge part of a franchise’s complete purse. When a team pays more than ₹2 crore for one player, it is making a clear statement that the player is central to its entire season plan. The risk is also very high because the franchise has much less money available for other positions.
Pawan Sehrawat’s Season 10 deal is a good example of this risk. He was one of the most dangerous raiders in the league and had already built a strong reputation. However, the Telugu Titans struggled badly that season and finished at the bottom of the table. The example showed that even the best raider cannot solve every problem if the rest of the squad lacks quality and balance.
Mohammadreza Shadloui offers another side to the story. The Iranian all-rounder crossed ₹2 crore several times, including his ₹2.35 crore deal with Puneri Paltan in Season 10, ₹2.07 crore deal with Haryana Steelers in Season 11 and ₹2.23 crore deal with Gujarat Giants in Season 12. His value comes from the fact that he can influence the game in more than one way.
Shadloui can make important tackles from the corner while also contributing in attack. His physical strength, timing, and ability to perform in important moments set him apart from a player who depends on one skill. His successful spell with Puneri Paltan, which included 99 tackle points and a league title, showed why a franchise can justify spending such a large amount on an all-rounder.
The Rise of Devank and the Value of Recent Form
Devank Dalal’s ₹2.205 crore price in Season 12 showed another important part of the auction market. Players don’t always need years of superstar status to command a huge price. A breakout season can completely change a player’s market value.
Devank became the highest-valued domestic raider of Season 12 after producing performances that caught the attention of several franchises. His rise also showed the role of timing in an auction. When a player performs strongly before an auction, teams can become more willing to pay for what they believe he can deliver in the future.
However, recent form can also create risks. Teams may sometimes pay a huge amount based on one excellent season. The challenge is to decide whether that performance can be repeated. A franchise must study a player’s overall record, fitness, role and ability to perform under pressure rather than focusing only on the latest numbers.
The auction therefore rewards teams that can separate genuine long-term value from short-term excitement. A player can be expensive because several teams want him at the same time, but that does not always mean he is the best choice for every franchise.
Building the Defensive Spine
While raiders often attract the biggest headlines, strong defence remains central to building a successful PKL team. A franchise needs to think about its left corner, right corner, left cover and right cover as parts of one defensive unit. These players have to understand each other’s movement and make decisions together.
Defensive chemistry cannot always be bought at an auction. Two excellent defenders may not immediately form a strong partnership if their styles do not match, explains 1xBet analyst Vikram Singh. On the other hand, a slightly less famous pair can become highly effective if they understand each other and work as one unit.
The history of combinations such as Sunil Kumar and Parvesh Bhainswal shows the value of defensive understanding. When a franchise breaks up a successful defensive partnership, it may gain individual quality but lose the connection that made the original unit strong. This is why teams need to think beyond individual player rankings.
A good auction strategy should therefore identify the defensive spine before spending heavily on attacking players. If a team has a strong pair of corners and covers, it can give its raiders more freedom. Defenders can create opportunities through successful tackles, while raiders can use the confidence a reliable defence builds.
Why Teams Need Three Types of Raiders
A successful PKL squad usually needs more than one dependable raider. The primary raider carries much of the attacking responsibility and can make a large number of raids during a match. However, relying too heavily on one player can be dangerous if opponents find a way to stop him.
The secondary raider provides support and helps maintain the team’s attacking pressure. This player can take responsibility when the main raider is tackled and can also help manage the pace of the game. A strong second option prevents opponents from focusing all their attention on one player.
The third role can belong to a player who is particularly useful in do-or-die raids. These raids often carry extra pressure because the team needs a point before the opportunity disappears. Sachin Tanwar has shown the value of players who can handle such situations and produce points under pressure.
This three-raider model gives a franchise flexibility. If the main raider has a difficult night, the second and third options can keep the attack alive. It also makes it harder for opponents to create a defensive plan around one player.
The Young Player Advantage
Young players can play a major role in purse management. The New Young Player system allows franchises to develop talent without spending huge amounts in the auction. This can provide a major advantage to teams that have strong youth systems.
Puneri Paltan’s Yuva Paltan model is a useful example of how grassroots development can support the senior team. Instead of entering every auction with the same need for expensive replacements, a franchise can bring through young players who already understand its coaching methods and playing style.
This approach also protects the purse. If a franchise has talented young players available, it can spend more on one or two key positions. The saved money can then be used to strengthen areas with fewer internal options.
Young players also bring energy and hunger to a squad. They may not have the experience of a major star, but they can grow during the season and become important players in future campaigns. For a franchise thinking beyond one season, this can be extremely valuable.
Retention Can Change the Entire Auction Plan
The auction does not begin with every franchise having the same needs. Retention decisions made before the auction can completely change the amount of money available for new players. Elite Retained Players, Retained Young Players and New Young Players all play different roles in squad planning.
Final Bid Match cards add another layer to the process. A franchise can potentially match the final price offered for one of its released players. This means other teams have to consider whether they are actually buying a player or simply pushing up the price for his former franchise.
Retention can therefore act as both a saving and a cost. According to 1xBet analyst Vikram Singh, keeping an important player at a suitable value can protect a team from the auction market. However, retaining too many expensive players can also reduce the amount of money available when new talent enters the auction.
The best franchises understand this balance before the auction begins. They identify the players they cannot afford to lose, protect their purse where possible and then create a clear list of positions that need investment.
The Hidden Battle of FBM Cards
Final Bid Match cards can create some of the most interesting moments in the auction. A team may appear to have lost a former player, only for the original franchise to match the final bid. This changes how rival teams approach certain players.
There can also be an element of price pressure. A franchise that knows its rival needs a raider badly may continue bidding because it believes the rival will spend heavily. Even if the bidding team does not ultimately want that player, it can force the rival to use more of its purse.
However, this strategy can backfire. Aggressive bidding can also waste the purse of the team doing the bidding. If officials become too focused on stopping rivals, they may lose sight of their own squad requirements.
The smartest teams know when to walk away. An auction can tempt officials into spending more simply because they have already invested money in the bidding process. But the money remaining in the purse matters more than the money already spent.
Top-Heavy or Balanced: Which Model Works Best?
There is no single answer to the question of how a PKL franchise should spend ₹5 crore. A team with a strong youth system may be able to spend heavily on one star because it already has cheap and talented players waiting for opportunities. Another franchise with fewer retained players may need to spread its money across several positions.
The top-heavy strategy can work when the marquee player can truly change matches, and the rest of the squad has enough quality to support him. But spending 65 to 70 percent of the purse on two players leaves little room for mistakes.
A balanced strategy is less glamorous but can provide greater squad depth. A franchise can limit its biggest individual bid and instead spend on five or six high-value players. This gives the coach more options and reduces the risk of the entire season depending on one superstar.
As 1xBet analyst Vikram Singh puts it, “The strongest auction plan is not always the one that wins the biggest player, but the one that leaves enough quality around that player to win matches.”
What the Next PKL Auction Could Teach Us
The coming PKL auction will once again show how quickly player values can rise when several franchises want the same talent. The 2 Crore club has already changed the expectations around elite players, but huge bids will continue to carry major risks.
Teams must look beyond a player’s points or reputation. They need to understand how the player fits into their existing squad. They need to consider fitness, age, role, defensive support, attacking support and the quality of their bench.
The most successful franchise may not be the one that makes the loudest move. It could be the team that quietly fills every important position while keeping enough money for the final rounds of the auction.
The Real Winner Is the Complete Squad
The PKL auction is ultimately a test of balance. A ₹2 crore superstar can win matches, but he cannot play every role on the mat. A great raider still needs defenders who can stop opponents, while a strong defence needs raiders who can put points on the board.
The 2 Crore club has added excitement to the PKL player market, but history has shown that an expensive player does not automatically guarantee a successful season. The examples of Pawan Sehrawat and Mohammadreza Shadloui show two different ways a huge investment can shape a team. One highlights the danger of depending too heavily on one player, while the other shows how a versatile player can justify a massive price.
For franchises, the real challenge is to enter the auction with a clear plan and the discipline to follow it. 1xBet Analyst Vikram Singh believes that the best teams will be those that understand when to spend, when to wait and when to walk away. In the end, the auction is not won by the biggest bid alone. It is won by the franchise that builds the strongest seven, protects its depth and creates a squad capable of surviving the long PKL season.
