Women’s HIL 2026: Argentina’s Gorzelany emerges top purchase, Monica is costliest Indian in mini auction
Indian hockey fans have plenty to cheer about after the mini auction for the Women’s Hockey India League (HIL) 2026 wrapped up in New Delhi on Wednesday. The event turned into an exciting showdown, with teams snapping up top talent from India and abroad to build strong squads under a INR 2 crore salary cap.
In a big turnaround, Indian midfielder Monika grabbed the spotlight as the highest-paid Indian player, fetching INR 15 lakh from Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers. She had gone unsold last season, but intense bidding from Delhi SG Pipers couldn’t stop the Tigers from securing her. The real auction thriller, though, was Argentine defender Agustina Gorzelany. Teams fought hard for her skills, and she ended up as the day’s priciest signing at a whopping INR 42 lakh—also with the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers.
Four teams jumped into the fray: JSW Soorma Hockey Club, Ranchi Royals, Delhi SG Pipers, and Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers. From a pool of over 100 players, they mixed international stars with India’s rising young guns, focusing on smart picks to create balanced lineups for the 2026 HIL season.
Other standout buys kept the energy high. Argentine forward María Jose Granatto joined JSW Soorma Hockey Club for INR 34 lakh after beating out bids from Delhi SG Pipers and Ranchi Royals. Fellow Argentine Valentina Raposo Ruiz de los Llanos drew massive interest and landed with Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for INR 30 lakh. Indian defender Udita, last year’s top Indian buy, stayed put with Delhi SG Pipers at her base price of INR 10 lakh.
Heartwarming moments popped up too—like young midfielder Mahima Tete reuniting with her sister Salima at JSW Soorma Hockey Club for just INR 2 lakh.
Here’s how the final squads shook out after all the wheeling and dealing:
JSW Soorma Hockey Club
Retained: Ajmina Kujur, Jyoti Chhatri (Jr Player – Traded from Ranchi Royals), Mumtaz Khan (Traded from SG Pipers), Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke (Jr Player), Hina Bano (Jr Player), Sonam (Jr Player), Penny Squibb (Overseas), Jimena Maria Cedres (Overseas), Olivia Shannon (Overseas), Savita, Nidhi, Baljeet Kaur, Jyoti, Nisha, Salima Tete.
New Buys: Mahima Tete (INR 2 Lakh), Granatto Maria Jose (INR 34 Lakh), Vilar Del Dupuy (INR 2 Lakh), Shihori Oikawa (INR 5 Lakh), Sarah Robertson (INR 10 Lakh).
Ranchi Royals
Retained: Nandni, Sakshi Rana (Jr Player), Kanika Siwach (Jr Player), Nikki Pradhan (Traded from JSW Soorma Hockey Club), Deepika Soreng (Jr Player – Traded from JSW Soorma Hockey Club), Ishika Chaudhary, Neha Goyal, Rutaja Dadaso Pisal, Beauty DungDung (Traded from Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers), Sangita Kumari (Traded from SG Pipers), Jocelyn Bartram (Overseas), Claire Colwil (Overseas).
New Buys: Lucina Von Der Heyde (INR 14 Lakh), Agustina Albertarrio (INR 15 Lakh), Agostina Alonso (INR 15 Lakh), Lalthantluangi (INR 3.10 Lakh), Maria Paula Ortiz (INR 10 Lakh), Annu (INR 2 Lakh), Valerie Magis (INR 5 Lakh), Bichu Devi (INR 9.8 Lakh).
Delhi SG Pipers (Note: Also referred to as SG Pipers in some contexts)
Retained: Shilpi Dabas (Traded from Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers), Sharmila Devi (Traded from JSW Soorma Hockey Club), Jyoti Singh (Jr Player), Manisha (Jr Player), Sunelita Toppo (Jr Player), Deepika (Jr Player), Bansari Solanki, Khaidem Shileima Chanu, Navneet Kaur, Ishika, Kaitlin Jaye Nobbs (Overseas – Traded from Ranchi Royals), Victoria Sauze (Overseas – Traded from Ranchi Royals).
New Buys: Udita (INR 10 Lakh), Thoudam Suman Devi (INR 5 Lakh), Cristina Cosentino (INR 5 Lakh), Costa Biondi Valentina Isabel (INR 10 Lakh), Lola Riera Zuzuarregui (INR 21 Lakh), Teresa Viana Ache (INR 11 Lakh), Preeti Dubey (INR 2 Lakh), Juana Castellaro Morello (INR 12.50 Lakh).
Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers
Retained: Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Lalrinpuii Pachuav (Jr Player), Manisha Chauhan (Traded from SG Pipers), Jennifer Rizzo (Overseas), Mahima Choudhary, Vandana Katariya, Lalremsiami, Sonika (Traded from Ranchi Royals).
New Buys: Monika (INR 15 Lakh), Gurjit Kaur (INR 2 Lakh), Puja Sahoo (INR 2 Lakh), Agustina Gorzelany (INR 42 Lakh), Valentina Raposo Ruiz de los Llanos (INR 30 Lakh), Victoria Manuele (INR 2 Lakh), Emma Findlay (INR 5 Lakh), Noor Orpa de Baat (INR 14 Lakh), Sukhveer Kaur (INR 2 Lakh), Anjali Gautam (INR 2 Lakh), Sosha Carina Benninga (INR 5 Lakh).
With these fresh rosters, the Women’s Hockey India League 2026 promises thrilling action as teams gear up for the season. Keep an eye on stars like Monika and Gorzelany—they could light up the field.
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