Mumbai, June 3 -- At the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 Auction on Saturday, while others held their breath, Devank Dalal was the loudest cheerleader in the room -- for himself. Last season's Best Raider watched with a grin as the Bengal Warriorz kept raising their paddle. By the time the hammer came down at a staggering Rs.2.205 crore, the 23-year-old had become one of the most expensive players in PKL history -- and the most expensive Indian for the upcoming term. "I was confident I'd go for a big amount," Dalal said, with a shrug. "The price tag doesn't add pressure. If anything, it backs my belief." It's hard to argue with someone who puts up the kind of numbers he did last season. Turning out for Patna Pirates, Dalal racked up 301 raid points in 25 matches with an average of 12.04 per game and notched up 18 Super 10s as he helped his team finish the season as runners-up. But that level wasn't always guaranteed. In early 2024 Dalal had been let go by the Jaipur Pink Panthers after a forgettable season was derailed by a brutal training injury: a knee to the head that left him concussed and out for nearly two months. In keeping with his nonchalant attitude, Dalal refused to dwell on it and chose to train harder. His induction into the Indian Army gave him a fresh environment and structure, and the results followed. In February 2025, he played a key role in Services' title win at the 71st Senior National Kabaddi Championship, proving his prowess beyond the league. Growing up in the kabaddi hotbed of Rohtak, Haryana, Dalal first fell in love with the sport watching the great Pardeep Narwal. He began playing seriously in Class 10 and hasn't looked back since. "There's no such thing as an off-season for me," he said, laughing. "Every single day is training day be it rain, shine, or injury." While he hopes to use the big paycheck to finally build a home for his family - something they've long wished for - his immediate focus is on crossing 350 raid points and leading Bengal Warriorz to their second title. For a player who celebrates his own auction, he's looking forward to cheering for each of his own raids that will follow....