The inaugural Karnataka Kabaddi Premier League (KKPL) 2026 player auction lived up to expectations, with franchises battling hard to secure the best talent ahead of the league’s first season. The biggest headline of the day belonged to star raider Sai Prasad, who emerged as the most expensive KKPL player after being signed by the Uttara Kannada Stallions for ₹3.60 lakh.
The auction, held at the Koramangala Club in Bengaluru, featured intense bidding as all eight franchises looked to build balanced 14-player squads within a salary purse of ₹10 lakh.
Sai Prasad Karnataka Kabaddi Premier League Record Signing
Sai Prasad Karnataka Kabaddi Premier League story became the highlight of the auction as multiple franchises competed to sign the highly-rated raider.
Sai Prasad attracted strong interest from several teams before Uttara Kannada Stallions finally secured his services with a winning bid of ₹3.60 lakh. His signing underlines the franchise’s ambition to build a strong squad capable of challenging for the inaugural KKPL title.
Known for his attacking style and ability to score valuable raid points, Sai Prasad is expected to play a crucial role for the Stallions during the tournament.
Sai Prasad Auction Price Tops the Charts
The Sai Prasad auction price of ₹3.60 lakh made him the highest-paid player at the 2026 auction.
He finished ahead of Gagan Gowda, who was bought by Hoysala Empire for ₹3.20 lakh. Sushil Kambrekar secured the third highest bid after joining Mangalore Indians for ₹2.90 lakh.
The remaining top five signings included Vishwash S, who was signed by Vijayapura Lions for ₹2.60 lakh, and Vinod Naik, who also joined Uttara Kannada Stallions for ₹2.20 lakh.
These marquee signings showed that franchises were willing to spend a significant portion of their budget on proven performers who could make an immediate impact.
Most Expensive KKPL Player Headlines Competitive Auction
The race to become the most expensive KKPL player reflected the excitement surrounding the league’s first-ever auction.
The event featured two player categories. A total of 35 Category A players and 70 Category B players were sold, giving all eight franchises the opportunity to strengthen their squads with a mix of experienced and emerging talent.
Among the Category B players, Abdul Nasir became the biggest signing after Mysuru Mahasenas acquired him for ₹1.35 lakh.
The eight participating teams in the inaugural season are Uttara Kannada Stallions, Hoysala Empire, Mangalore Indians, Vijayapura Lions, Belagavi Bulls, Chalukya Sena Bagalkote, Bengaluru Bisons, and Mysuru Mahasenas.
Excitement Builds Ahead of KKPL 2026
With the auction now complete, attention turns to the opening season of the Karnataka Kabaddi Premier League 2026, which will be played at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru.
The successful auction has generated plenty of excitement among kabaddi fans, with several franchises assembling competitive squads. All eyes will now be on Sai Prasad, whose record-breaking signing has made him one of the biggest attractions of the tournament.
As the most expensive KKPL player, the star raider will carry high expectations, but he also has the talent and experience to justify his price tag. If he performs to his potential, Sai Prasad could become the face of the inaugural Karnataka Kabaddi Premier League and lead Uttara Kannada Stallions in their pursuit of the historic first championship.
