Gareth furlong

Delhi SG Pipers: Indian junior men’s hockey team defender Rohit was waiting anxiously on October 14, the second day of HIL auctions, for his name to come up along with his friends at the lunch hall in SAI Bengaluru. He held back his initial fear of going unsold, only to see five teams engage in a bidding war for the 20-year-old.

He breathed a huge sigh of relief and wore a proud smile as Delhi SG Pipers snatched him up for 40 lakh, making him the costliest Indian player yet to make his senior debut.

"There was a slight fear in my head if any of the teams would bid for me but to see five teams battle to have me in their squad was a complete surprise. I won’t lie, as the bids got higher my smile got wider. It was a moment of great pride for me to go for a huge amount like that enough though I haven’t made my National Team debut yet. It must mean the coaches and selectors have liked what they have seen on and off the turf," Rohit revealed.