The Indian Super League Players Auction, the first ever auction of football players in India, saw the eight franchises battle it out for 10 of India's finest players in Mumbai earlier today.
Ten players who have featured for the Indian national team and had missed the Indian Super League’s (ISL) inaugural season went under the hammer for the eight teams.
UK-based Charlie Ross began the auctioneer proceedings.
Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri bagged the highest bid, a whopping Rs 1.20 crore from Team Mumbai City FC. Eugeneson Lyngdoh, the-28 year old midfielder came a close second by breaking through the 1 crore ceiling, winning a bid price of Rs 1.05 crore successfully bought over by FC Pune City following a round of bids from Mumbai City FC, Atletico de Kolkata and NorthEast United FC.
Rino Anto, India’s best rightback turned out to be the dark horse of the ISL bagging a surprise bid price of Rs 90 lakhs when he was picked up by Atletico de Kolkata.
Chennaiyin FC grabbed a sweet deal with Karanjit Singh, the only available goal keeper at the auction for his base price of Rs 60 lakhs. Chennaiyin FC also bid successfully for Thoi Singh, the 24 year old talented midfielder for Rs 86 lakhs.
The second season of the Indian Super League (ISL) will kick off on the 3rd of October with its opening match to be played between Chennaiyin FC and Atletico de Kolkata, winners of the first season of the ISL at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai.