Asian Games Hero Pawan Sehrawat broke his own record of being the costliest player at Pro Kabaddi League for the second consecutive year after he was picked by Telugu Titans for whopping Rs 2.60 crore at the auctions. On Monday, Haryana Steelers, UP Yoddhas, Telugu Titans and Bengaluru Bulls were engaged in a bidding war for Sehrawat, whose presence was crucial in India's victory over Iran in the Asian Games final as the team clinched the gold medal.

Iranian allrounder Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh becomes the costliest overseas player after being sold to Puneri Paltan for INR 2.35 CR during the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2023 Season 10 Auction held in Mumbai. He overtook Fazel Atrachali’s previous price of Rs. 1.38 crore last year with Puneri Paltan.

The auction is a two-day affair which began on Monday with 12 teams bidding for players, both Indian and overseas, from categories A and B. The auctions for categories C and D are to take place on Tuesday.

A total of 137 matches are set to be played in the 10th edition of PKL. About 132 league stage matches will be followed by the playoff featuring five matches — two eliminators, two semifinals and the final.

The base price in category A was Rs 30 lakh, category B was Rs 20 lakh whereas in categories C and D, the base prices were Rs 13 lakh and Rs 9 lakh respectively.

Iran captain Shadloui's latest appearance was in the Asian Games final against gold medal winners India. A bidding war started for him between U Mumba and Bengal Warriors. Around the 80 Lakh mark, Gujarat Giants joined and spiked the call to over a crore. Puneri Paltan entered the fray around the INR 1.14 CR mark and Telugu Titans at INR 1.40 CR mark. Puneri Paltan finally swiped the talented allrounder after Patna Pirates decided against the use of their right of final bid match(FBM).

"We needed someone on the left. We came with the mindset of picking him up at the auctions,” Puneri Paltan coach BC Ramesh said.

 India's Maninder Singh was also in high demand as he was brought in by Bengal Warriors for Rs 2.12 crore.

Fazal Atrachali joined Gujarat Giants for Rs 1.60 crore, and attracted the biggest bid for a defender in the tournament auction’s history.

India’s all-rounder Rohit Gulia went to Gujarat Giants for Rs 58.50 lakh while another all-rounder, Vijay Malik was acquired by UP Yoddhas for Rs 85 lakhs.

Manjeet attracted bids from Tamil Thalaivas and Patna Pirates, who took him for Rs 92 lakh. 

In category B, Gujarat Giants took Mohammad Nabibakhsh and Arkam Shaikh for Rs 22 lakh and Rs 20.25 lakh respectively.

Nitin Rawal was taken by Bengal Warriors with Rs 30 lakh, who used their second FBM to rope in Shubham Shinde with Rs 32.25 lakh. U Mumba added Girish Ernak for Rs 20 lakh and took Mahender Singh for Rs 40.25 lakh while Vishal went to Bengaluru Bulls for Rs 20 lakh. Sombir went to Gujarat Giants for Rs 26.25 lakh.

There were no bidders for Sandeep Narwal, Deepak Niwas Hooda, Ashish, Manoj Gowda, Sachin Narwal, Gurdeep, Ajinkya Kapre and Vishal Bhardwaj.