PKL 12 Auction: Who Will Be The Most Expensive Players? Remaining Purse Values of Each Team

The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 12 auction is set to take place on May 31 and June 1, 2025, in Mumbai. With teams finalizing their strategies and star players like Mohammadreza Shadloui, Pawan Sehrawat, and Naveen Kumar up for grabs, the PKL 12 auction will be an event to watch. Each of the 12 teams has a remaining purse value to spend, ranging from ₹1.86 crore to ₹4.56 crore, and they’re ready to bid big to build strong squads for the upcoming season.
Remaining Purse Values for PKL 12 Auction
Before the auction, teams retained players in three categories: Elite Retained Players (ERP), Retained Young Players (RYP), and New Young Players (NYP). A total of 83 players were retained, leaving each team with a specific amount from their ₹5 crore salary purse to spend in the auction. Here’s a look at the PKL 12 purse remaining for all 12 teams:
- Dabang Delhi: ₹4.56 crore
- Bengaluru Bulls: ₹4.12 crore
- Gujarat Giants: ₹4.08 crore
- Bengal Warriorz: ₹3.95 crore
- Telugu Titans: ₹3.40 crore
- Patna Pirates: ₹3.55 crore
- Jaipur Pink Panthers: ₹3.30 crore
- Tamil Thalaivas: ₹2.55 crore
- Puneri Paltan: ₹2.49 crore
- Haryana Steelers: ₹2.46 crore
- U Mumba: ₹2.31 crore
- UP Yoddhas: ₹1.86 crore
With these purse values, teams like Dabang Delhi, Bengaluru Bulls, and Gujarat Giants have the financial muscle to bid for top-tier players, while others like UP Yoddhas will need to be more strategic. Now, let’s explore the players who could attract massive bids in the PKL 12 auction. These figures reflect the PKL auction 2025 purse remaining for each team, showing how franchises like Dabang Delhi, Bengaluru Bulls, and Gujarat Giants can chase premium talent.
Players Likely to Fetch Over ₹2 Crore in PKL 12 Auction
With Dabang Delhi, Bengaluru Bulls, and Gujarat Giants holding over ₹4 crore each, they are in a strong position to bid for PKL 12 auction players list’s top stars. The auction is expected to witness high-stakes bids for some of the most expensive players in PKL history. Below are five players who could break the ₹2 crore mark:
- Mohammadreza Shadloui: The Iranian all-rounder, known as the “Showstopper,” has been a hot pick in recent auctions. He fetched ₹2.35 crore in Season 10 with Puneri Paltan and ₹2.07 crore in Season 11 with Haryana Steelers. His ability to raid and defend makes him a game-changer, and teams like Dabang Delhi could go all-in for him in the PKL 12 auction. The Iranian all-rounder, nicknamed the “Showstopper,” is expected to be among the PKL 12 sold players at a high price tag.
- Pawan Sehrawat: Known as the “Hi-Flyer,” he fetched ₹2.605 crore in Season 10 — the most expensive player in PKL to date. The Pawan Sehrawat PKL 12 auction price could again cross ₹2 crore depending on bidding from teams like Dabang Delhi or Gujarat Giants.
- Devank Dalal: The breakout star of Season 11, Devank earned the Best Raider award with 301 raid points for Patna Pirates. His youth and consistency make him a strong contender to cross ₹2 crore, especially for teams like Gujarat Giants looking for a lead raider. With 301 raid points in Season 11, he is a breakout star. The Devank Dalal PKL 12 auction appearance could see a massive bid from Gujarat Giants.
- Arjun Deshwal: Known as the “Raid Machine,” Arjun has 1174 raid points in 114 matches and led Jaipur Pink Panthers to the Season 9 title. Released for the PKL 12 auction, he’s likely to attract big bids from teams needing a reliable raider. The “Raid Machine” is another high-value player likely to be on the PKL 12 auction player list of every top team.
- Ashu Malik: After scoring over 1100 raid points for Dabang Delhi, Ashu enters the auction for the first time. His speed and raiding ability could see teams like Bengaluru Bulls or Gujarat Giants push his price past ₹2 crore in the PKL 12 auction. With over 1100 raid points for Dabang Delhi, he could spark a bidding war involving Bengaluru Bulls and Gujarat Giants.
These players could also become PKL auction 2025 highest price players, making headlines post-auction.
Players Likely to Attract Over ₹1 Crore in PKL 12 Auction
Teams like Bengal Warriorz, Telugu Titans, Patna Pirates, and Jaipur Pink Panthers, with purses ranging from ₹3.30 crore to ₹3.95 crore, can afford to bid for players who could fetch over ₹1 crore. These players may not hit the ₹2 crore mark but are still highly valuable. Here are six players to watch:
- Yogesh Dahiya: A solid defender, Yogesh was a key part of Dabang Delhi’s squad. His tackling skills could see teams like Bengal Warriorz bid over ₹1 crore in the PKL 12 auction.
- Ankit Jaglan: An all-rounder with strong defensive capabilities, Ankit’s versatility makes him a target for teams like Patna Pirates looking to balance their squad.
- Naveen Kumar: The “Naveen Express” may be among the PKL 12 sold players if he fetches over ₹1 crore, adding to the who is the most expensive player in PKL debate.
- Ankush Rathee: A reliable defender for Jaipur Pink Panthers, Ankush’s consistency in tackles makes him a strong candidate for a ₹1 crore-plus bid in the PKL 12 auction.
- Vijay Malik: With 673 total points (581 raid, 92 tackle), Vijay’s all-round skills make him a valuable pick for teams like Bengal Warriorz or Jaipur Pink Panthers.
- Nitin Rawal: An experienced all-rounder, Nitin’s ability to contribute in both raiding and defense could see him fetch over ₹1 crore in the PKL 12 auction.
Team Strategies for the PKL 12 Auction
Each team’s approach to the PKL 12 auction will depend on their remaining purse and current squad needs. Let’s look at how some teams might plan:
- Dabang Delhi (₹4.56 crore): Having released stars like Naveen Kumar and Ashu Malik, they have the highest purse and can target multiple big names. They might bid for Mohammadreza Shadloui or Pawan Sehrawat to lead their raiding unit. With maximum funds among the PKL 12 auction teams, they are expected to chase stars like Pawan Sehrawat or Shadloui.
- Bengaluru Bulls (₹4.12 crore): After a disappointing Season 11, they’ve appointed BC Ramesh as coach and may chase players like Arjun Deshwal or Devank Dalal to rebuild their raiding department.
- Gujarat Giants (₹4.08 crore): With a strong purse, they could target a mix of raiders and defenders, possibly bidding for Ashu Malik and a top defender like Yogesh Dahiya.
- Bengal Warriorz (₹3.95 crore): They may use their Final Bid Match (FBM) card to retain a star like Maninder Singh or bid for players like Naveen Kumar to strengthen their attack.
- Telugu Titans (₹3.40 crore): With Pawan Sehrawat’s future uncertain, they might use their FBM card for him or target Naveen Kumar to lead their raiding.
- Patna Pirates (₹3.55 crore): As Season 11 runners-up, they’ll look to bolster their squad with players like Ankit Jaglan or Vijay Malik for balance.
- Jaipur Pink Panthers (₹3.30 crore): Having retained fewer players, they could bid for Ankush Rathee or Nitin Rawal to support their core.
- Tamil Thalaivas, Puneri Paltan, Haryana Steelers, U Mumba (₹2.31–₹2.55 crore): These teams will need to be strategic, focusing on one or two key players like Vijay Malik or Nitin Rawal.
- UP Yoddhas (₹1.86 crore): With the smallest purse and 13 players already retained, they’ll likely target budget players or use their FBM card wisely.
Teams with smaller purses like Tamil Thalaivas, Puneri Paltan, Haryana Steelers, U Mumba, and UP Yoddhas will be cautious, targeting value players from the PKL 12 auction sold players list or PKL auction remaining players pool.
The PKL 12 auction is set to be a blockbuster event, with over 500 players, including domestic and overseas stars, going under the hammer. Fans can expect intense bidding wars, especially for players like Mohammadreza Shadloui, Pawan Sehrawat, and Naveen Kumar. Teams with larger purses like Dabang Delhi and Bengaluru Bulls will likely dominate the headlines, while others will play smart to maximize their budgets.
The PKL 12 auction is a crucial step toward shaping the teams for Season 12, following Haryana Steelers’ title win in Season 11. With over 500 domestic and international players, fans are eager to see the full PKL 12 auction player list and watch who becomes the Pro Kabaddi most expensive players this season.
For full updates, visit the official PKL website and follow PKL on social media.
FAQs About PKL 12 Auction
The PKL 12 auction is scheduled for May 31 and June 1, 2025, in Mumbai. It will be live-streamed on Star Sports Network and JioHotstar starting at 7:00 PM IST.
Dabang Delhi has the highest purse at ₹4.56 crore, followed by Bengaluru Bulls (₹4.12 crore) and Gujarat Giants (₹4.08 crore).
Players like Mohammadreza Shadloui, Pawan Sehrawat, Devank Dalal, Arjun Deshwal, and Ashu Malik are expected to attract bids over ₹2 crore in the PKL 12 auction.