New Delhi: He has been out of national reckoning for more than an year over disciplinary issues, but midfielder Gurbaj Singh proved his worth when he was notched up for a whopping $99,000 by Ranchi Rays in a closed bid for the Hockey India League Season Four. This is the highest amount a franchise has spent on any Indian in the last four years, with strikers Akashdeep Singh ($84,000) and Ramandeep Singh ($81,000) being the most expensive players in the auction last year.
Among overseas players, Germany forward Christopher Ruhr was the costliest buy — also by Ranchi — at $75,000. Other notable bids were for Tom Craig (Kalinga Lancers), Robert van der Horst (Punjab Warriors) and Seve van Ass (Uttar Pradesh Wizards). The franchises put faith in young talent with 18-year-old defender Hardik Singh being the most expensive of the lot, picked by Punjab for $39,000.
