Kabaddi Champions League season 2 auction on 17 October: 300-plus players

The Kabaddi Champions League (KCL) will hold its season 2 player auction on Saturday, 17 October 2026, with more than 300 players expected to go under the hammer and a total player purse of Rs 5 crore split across 10 franchises. The pool follows central trials in Sonipat and Rohtak that drew over 6,000 registrations, according to a league press release carried by ANI.

The numbers frame the auction. Each franchise gets Rs 50 lakh to build its squad, so teams will be choosing from a large pool on a fixed and fairly modest budget. With 10 teams and over 300 names, the auction is the step that turns a trial-tested talent pool into finished line-ups for the new season.

Asian Games captain Sunil Malik leads the big names

The league said the auction is expected to feature several prominent players, including Asian Games gold medallists and members of India’s national team. Sunil Malik, who captained India at the Asian Games, is the headline name, alongside Ayan Lochab, Ankit Jaglan and Jaideep Dahiya, all of whom are expected to draw attention during the bidding.

Others expected to go under the hammer include Meetu Sharma, Neeraj Narwal, Yogesh Dahiya, Vijay Malik, Surjeet Narwal and Nitin Dhankar.

The release said the presence of established players with international experience is expected to add an important dimension to the auction, with franchise owners weighing their options as they look to build competitive squads. For fans, it sets up a simple question for 17 October: how much of a Rs 50 lakh purse a franchise is willing to commit to a proven name, and how much it keeps back for depth from the trial pool.

Sonipat and Rohtak trials drew over 6,000 players

Before the auction, the league ran central trials in Sonipat and Rohtak, giving players a route to selection ahead of the season. The trials attracted more than 6,000 registrations, and the auction pool of more than 300 players follows that process.

The league said its aim is to provide a competitive platform for kabaddi players, promote regional sporting talent and contribute to the growth of the sport across India.

Kurukshetra Knights and Jhajjar Jaguars expand the league to 10

KCL has added two new franchises for season 2, Kurukshetra Knights and Jhajjar Jaguars, taking the league to 10 teams. The league expects the expansion to create more opportunities for players and to sharpen competition among franchises as they put their squads together.

Kuldeep Dalal, President of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of Haryana, extended his best wishes to the league ahead of the auction. He wished the organisers, franchises and players success and expressed hope that the new season would open up greater opportunities for kabaddi talent and help the sport keep developing.

The auction on Saturday, 17 October is the key step in finalising franchise line-ups for KCL season 2. The release did not give a venue for the auction or a start date for the season.