The loudest moment of the wrestling league auction on January 3, 2026, did not come from a marquee foreign signing or a late surprise bid it arrived when Sujeet Kalkal’s name appeared on the board.
What followed was a fierce, edge-of-the-seat bidding war that underlined just how highly India’s U23 World Champion in the men’s 65kg category is rated across franchises. By the time the hammer finally came down, Sujeet had become the defining acquisition of the night, snapped up by Delhi Dangal Warriors for a staggering ₹52 lakh.
For a brief moment, it looked as if Sujeet might even slip through unnoticed. With the auction moving at pace and teams managing their purses carefully, his name was almost passed before UP Dominators raised the paddle, sensing opportunity. That hesitation lasted only seconds. Mumbai Tiigers jumped in immediately, recognizing the long-term value and match-winning potential that Sujeet brings at 65 kg a weight class that often decides ties in close contests.
What unfolded next was the most intense bidding sequence of the evening. UP Dominators pushed the price aggressively before stepping out at ₹28 lakh, already more than doubling the base valuation. That should have cleared the path for Mumbai Tiigers, but Delhi Dangal Warriors entered late—and decisively. From that point on, it became a straight duel between two franchises unwilling to blink.
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The numbers climbed rapidly: ₹40 lakh, ₹45 lakh, ₹50 lakh. Each raise was met with equal conviction, both teams fully aware that Sujeet is not merely a promising prospect but a proven international performer. As the auctioneer prepared to bring the hammer down at ₹50 lakh, Mumbai Tiigers made one last attempt. Delhi’s response was immediate and emphatic ₹52 lakh. Mumbai finally bowed out, and Sujeet Kalkal was confirmed as a Delhi Dangal Warrior, triggering one of the biggest reactions of the night.
The valuation reflects more than just a single tournament medal. Sujeet represents a rare blend of consistency, tactical intelligence, and physical dominance at 65kg. His U23 World Championship title marked him out as one of India’s most reliable performers in the non-Olympic-to-Olympic transition bracket, and his steady rise through the senior domestic circuit has reinforced that reputation. For Delhi Dangal, this signing is a statement of intent building a core around Indian wrestlers who can anchor the team across multiple seasons.
Sujeet’s acquisition also reshaped the auction dynamics that followed. Teams recalibrated their strategies, evident in how quickly marquee names were picked up thereafter. Naveen’s move to Mumbai Tiigers for ₹34.50 lakh and Vishal Kaliramana’s ₹22.50 lakh switch to UP Dominators reflected a renewed urgency to lock in Indian talent before prices spiralled further. Ankush Chandram’s ₹24.50 lakh deal with Haryana Thunders and Rahul Dalal’s move to UP Dominators for ₹12 lakh continued the trend of franchises prioritising domestic depth.
In the women’s category too, the ripple effect was visible. Priya Malik fetched ₹29 lakh from Punjab Royals, while Manisha Banwala went to Maharashtra Kesari for ₹25 lakh. Haryana Thunders made the biggest splash among women’s signings by securing Ukraine’s Iryna Koliadenko for ₹44 lakh, but even that figure was frequently compared to Sujeet’s bid as the benchmark for elite value.
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For Delhi Dangal Warriors, Sujeet’s signing fits neatly into a balanced roster strategy. They complemented his arrival by securing Iran’s Hadi Vafaeipour at 86kg for ₹26 lakh, adding international steel without compromising their Indian core. The message was clear: Delhi are building a squad designed to dominate across weight categories, not just rely on isolated stars.
From Sujeet’s perspective, the move to Delhi brings both expectation and opportunity. A ₹52 lakh price tag carries pressure, but it also reflects trust—trust in his ability to deliver points consistently and to handle high-stakes bouts against both domestic and international opponents. In a league where margins are thin and momentum swings quickly, wrestlers like Sujeet often become the difference between semifinal qualification and an early exit.
As the auction concluded, many names stood out, but only one truly defined the night. Sujeet Kalkal was not just the most contested wrestler he was the symbol of the league’s growing confidence in Indian talent. For Delhi Dangal Warriors, the hammer falling at ₹52 lakh may well be remembered as the moment their campaign truly took shape.
