The Indian sporting landscape just witnessed history as Mohit Khatri, a standout player from Delhi Hurricanes, emerged as India’s most expensive signing in the inaugural Rugby Premier League (RPL), bagging a whopping ₹4.75 Lakhs contract with the Bengaluru Bravehearts.
The Rugby Premier League, officially launched by the Indian Rugby Football Union, is the world’s first franchise-based rugby league and has brought together six powerful franchises, top-tier international talent, and some of India’s best rugby players under one banner. The curtain-raiser event, held in Mumbai, featured a high-profile Draft and Auction, attracting widespread attention from fans, athletes, and investors alike.
Amid the fierce bidding, Mohit Khatri’s name stood out. His exceptional athleticism, skill, and consistent performance for the Delhi Hurricanes made him a prime target. The Bengaluru Bravehearts, owned by a consortium of Manipal Education & Medical Group, InCred, and Soham Energy, secured his services, making him the highest-paid Indian player of the league.
But Khatri’s selection wasn’t the only win for Delhi Hurricanes.
In a proud moment for the club, six players from the Delhi Hurricanes were picked up across different franchises — a testament to their grassroots development and high-performance training system. Alongside Mohit Khatri, Deepak Punia (₹2.5L, Delhi Redz), Neeraj (₹2.75L, Mumbai Dreamers), Prince Khatri (₹3.75L, Hyderabad Heroes), Ajay Deswal (₹2.75L, Kalinga Black Tigers), and Mohit (₹50K, Delhi Redz) are all set to shine on the national stage.
The league itself is being hailed as a game-changer for Indian rugby. Featuring world-renowned names like Perry Baker, Rosko Specman, Scott Curry, and Waisea Nacuqu, the RPL offers Indian players a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play and train alongside global icons.
Speaking on the occasion, Satyam Trivedi, CEO of GMR Sports, which helped bring the league to life, said:
“The Rugby Premier League marks a pivotal moment in our mission to elevate rugby in India. We believe that the RPL will captivate a wider audience and provide Indian players with invaluable opportunities to raise the standard of the sport in the country.”
Rahul Bose, President of the Indian Rugby Football Union, added:
“This league has been six years in the making. Thanks to World Rugby’s global support, we created a 15-day exclusive window for RPL. With GMR Sports, visionary owners, and JioHotstar as our broadcast partner, India is ready to embrace world-class rugby.”
As rugby 7s continues to grow as a popular Olympic discipline, the RPL arrives at the perfect moment to redefine India’s rugby future. And at the center of it all is Mohit Khatri — not just a player, but a symbol of Indian rugby’s rising star.
Watch out, world. India’s tackling the future head-on.
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