Mumbai: Defender Anas Edathodika and midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh emerged as the costliest picks in the Indian Super League domestic players draft with Rs 1.1 crore each here on Sunday.
While Edathodika was picked up by new outfit Jamshedpur FC, Eugeneson was snapped up by two-time champions ATK.
Other top picks among the 134 players were veteran goalkeeper Subrata Paul, who was chosen by Jamshedpur for Rs 87 lakh, and right-back Pritam Kotal, grabbed by Delhi Dynamos for Rs 75 lakh.
“He was our no. 1 pick. He also scores goals and should be valuable,” ATK’s new coach Teddy Sheringham said about Lyngdoh.
ATK’s technical director Ashley Westwood was the coach of ISL debutants Bengaluru FC in the I-League when Lyngdoh was in their ranks.
The team also bought striker Robin Singh for Rs 65 lakh, who has played under Westwood for BFC in the I-League.
Steve Coppell, Jamshedpur FC’s head coach, said, “Picking Indian players is a priority and we will try and match the skeleton of the team. A decision on chosing foreign players will be taken soon. We have some foreign players in the mind.
“We had terrific and solid players in the pick. Now our job is to cement the team.” He supported the expansion of league to 10 teams and by two more months.
“There is more responsibility and it’s a step in the right direction,” he said.
Subrata Paul said, “I am happy to be associated with Tatas (owners of Jamshedpur FC.”
Mumbai City FC picked striker Balwant Singh (Rs 65 lakh) and goalie Arindam Bhattacharya (Rs 64 lakh).
Defender Rino Anto went to Kerala Blasters for Rs 63 lakh, BFC bagged Lenny Rodrigues for Rs 60 lakh.
In other significant buys, FC Goa got Pranoy Halder (Rs 58 lakh) and Narayan Das (Rs 58 lakh) while Chennaiyin FC bagged Thoi Singh (Rs 57 lakh).
