PVL Season 4 Auction: Jerome Vinith Headlines ₹22.5 Lakh Signings; Mumbai Meteors Splash ₹8 Lakh Each on Karthik A, Lad Om Vasant
Calicut, June 8, 2025:
The Prime Volleyball League (PVL) Season 4 auction in Calicut witnessed intense bidding battles as franchises invested heavily in top domestic talent. Leading the headlines was India international Jerome Vinith C, who became one of the auction’s biggest signings after being acquired by Chennai Blitz for ₹22.5 lakh in the Platinum category.
Local powerhouse Calicut Heroes made a strong statement by signing Shameemudheen, one of Kerala’s brightest talents, for ₹22.5 lakh. The Kochi Blue Spikers matched that figure to bring in seasoned attacker Vinit Kumar, underscoring their intent ahead of the October season.
Mumbai Meteors Make Big Moves
Mumbai Meteors made bold acquisitions, picking up Karthik A and Lad Om Vasant for ₹8 lakh each in the Platinum category. In the Gold segment, they used their Right to Match (RTM) to retain Vipul Kumar for ₹6.25 lakh and secured Sonu and Nikhil for ₹5 lakh apiece.
Hyderabad, Delhi, Ahmedabad Flex Depth
Hyderabad Black Hawks brought in Shikhar Singh for ₹16 lakh, while also adding Aman Kumar (₹11.5 lakh) and Deepu Venugopal (₹5.75 lakh).
Delhi Toofans made Aayush their marquee Platinum signing at ₹9 lakh. They also added George Antony (₹5 lakh) and Mannat Choudhary (₹6.5 lakh) to strengthen their Gold roster.
Ahmedabad Defenders, known for their consistent strategy, retained Shon T John (RTM) for ₹11.5 lakh, while also picking up Angamuthu (₹11 lakh) and Akhin GS (₹10.5 lakh), building a solid core for their campaign.
Other Major Picks Across Franchises
- Kolkata Thunder Bolts added Pankaj Sharma for ₹6 lakh and Srajan Shetty for ₹5 lakh in the Gold category.
- Bengaluru Torpedoes, who entered the auction late, made a splash by signing Jishnu PV for ₹14 lakh—one of the top buys in the Gold category. They also picked Joel Benjamin J (₹6.5 lakh), Ibin Jose, and Rohit Kumar (₹5 lakh each).
- Chennai Blitz, aside from Jerome Vinith, acquired M Ashwin Raj and Sameer Chaudhary (RTM) for ₹8 lakh each, rounding off a solid Platinum haul.
- Calicut Heroes added seasoned setter Mohan Ukkrapandian (RTM) and Santhosh S (₹8 lakh) to their roster, reinforcing their core with experience.
- Kochi Blue Spikers further strengthened their squad with Amal K Thomas (₹6.5 lakh) and Jasjodh Singh, who fetched ₹14.75 lakh—one of the highest prices in the Gold category.
- Goa Guardians, one of the new entrants, picked up Prince and Ramanathan for ₹8 lakh each from the Platinum pool, and Amit Chhoker (₹5 lakh) from the Gold list.
Competitive Bidding and Rising Profiles
The bidding war for Jerome Vinith, who previously played for Calicut Heroes, involved Chennai Blitz, Bengaluru Torpedoes, and Kolkata Thunder Bolts, underlining the demand for proven attackers with international experience.
With several players fetching eight-figure sums and younger prospects being snapped up across categories, the PVL Season 4 auction reflected the league’s growing stature and the rising profile of Indian volleyball.
About Prime Volleyball League (PVL)
The Prime Volleyball League is India’s first professional volleyball league, featuring 10 franchise teams and operated by sports marketing firm Baseline Ventures. Endorsed by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), the league brings together top Indian and international talent through a formal global transfer system.
Having successfully completed three seasons, PVL continues to build a dynamic platform for the sport in India.
Season 4 is scheduled for October 2025, promising high-octane action and nationwide fan engagement.