New Delhi, June 5 -- The recent auctions for the upcoming 12th season of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), in which 10 players were recruited for over Rs.1 crore each, is an indicator of the league's progression.

Ahead of the first season in 2014, the highest bid was for Rakesh Kumar, who went for Rs.12.8 lakh. Last Saturday, Gujarat Giants got Iranian Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh for Rs.2.23 crore, a little more than the Rs.2.20 crore paid by Bengal Warriorz for Devank Dalal. It was a spotty auction as 12 teams bid for more than 500 players, with the inevitable hits and misses.

Pawan Sehrawat, who went for Rs.2.60 crore to Telugu Titans in 2023, barely made it through this time, getting Rs.59.50 lakh from Tamil Thalaivas as most team pri...