Midfielder Gurbaj Singh was the most expensive player at the 2017 Hockey India League closed bid, fetching the highest bid of USD 99,000 from Ranchi Rays.
Gurbaj has been out of contention from the national team for over a year, after being suspended for nine months by Hockey India in August 2015 on charges of indulging in groupism and creating disharmony within the team during the Hockey World League Semifinals in Antwerp, Belgium.
German forward Christopher Ruhr was the most expensive foreign player, being bought by Ranchi Rays for USD 75,000.
Other notable bids were for Tom Craig (Kalinga Lancers), Robert van der Horst (Jaypee Punjab Warriors) and Seve Van Ass (Uttar Pradesh Wizards).
Many franchises invested in younger players, with 18-year-old defender Hardik Singh bought by Jaypee Punjab Warriors for USD 39,000.
Among other youngsters, Shamsher Singh and Ajay Yadav were bought by Uttar Pradesh Wizards, while India's U-17 Asia Cup winning captain Nilam Sanjeep Xess went to Kalinga Lancers.
In the closed bid process, six franchises participating in HIL 2017 -- Dabang Mumbai, Delhi Waveriders, Jaypee Punjab Warriors, Kalinga Lancers, Ranchi Rays and Uttar Pradesh Wizards -- picked up their players to complete their teams for the next season's event.
All teams were operated with a USD 725,000 cap on the purse. Having retained their squad for a significantly lesser amount, Ranchi Rays and Jaypee Punjab Warriors had a larger purse available for the bidding process.
Other notable players available in the closed bid included Indian goalkeeper Sushant Tirkey, Netherlands internationals Jaap Stockmann, Mink van der Weerden and Olympic Gold medallist Lucas Rossi of Argentina.