The ₹27 Lakh Masterstroke: Inside Naveen Rathi's VCL Auction Strategy for Haryana Hurricanes

On 9 September 2026, the Volleyball Champions League (VCL) 2026 auction in Ahmedabad delivered its biggest moment when Haryana Hurricanes signed outside hitter Chirag Yadav for ₹27 lakh, the highest bid of the entire auction. The franchise also locked in experienced setter Saqlain Tariq as its Icon Player. Leading that bidding table was team owner Naveen Rathi.

This post breaks down the thinking behind the Naveen Rathi VCL auction strategy: why the Hurricanes went big on one attacker, how that signing fits with the Icon Player, and how the rest of the squad was built around them.

The Signing That Made National Headlines

The Chirag Yadav deal was picked up by ANI and syndicated across national outlets including ThePrint and LatestLY, all describing it as the record bid of the VCL 2026 auction. You can read every story on our Haryana Hurricanes news and media coverage page.

For volleyball followers, Chirag Yadav was not a new name. He first drew big money at the Prime Volleyball League auction in 2022, when Calicut Heroes signed him for ₹12.25 lakh. Four years on, the Hurricanes more than doubled that figure, which tells you how highly the franchise rates his attacking game and his recent international experience.

Why Go All-In on Chirag Yadav?

An outside hitter wins the points that decide sets

In a short-format league like the VCL, where every match is played over three sets and a single run of points can swing the result, a reliable outside hitter is the player who finishes rallies under pressure. Outside hitters attack from the left, receive serve and defend. Signing the best one available gives a team a dependable scoring option in every rotation.

A statement to the league and to Haryana

The record bid also sent a message. The coverage after the auction summed it up well: the Hurricanes were not entering VCL 2026 just to take part. They were there to compete for the title and make Haryana proud. Paying top price for a proven attacker was the clearest way to say so on day one.

Pairing Star Power With an Icon Player: Chirag Yadav and Saqlain Tariq

A great hitter needs a great setter. Saqlain Tariq, the Hurricanes' Icon Player, runs the offence and decides where every second touch goes. Pairing an experienced setter with a high-impact attacker gives the team a core that can work in any match situation: Saqlain brings leadership and decision-making, Chirag brings the finishing power.

You can see both players, along with every position group, on the full Haryana Hurricanes squad page.

Balancing the Budget: Stars, Specialists and Squad Depth

A record bid only works if the rest of the purse still buys a complete team. Under Head Coach Vipin Tyagi and Assistant Coach Ankur Sharma, the Hurricanes' VCL 2026 roster was built across every position:

• Setters: Saqlain Tariq (Icon Player), Ayiaz Ahmed
• Outside hitters: Chirag Yadav, Swapnil Mehla, Anurag Rawat, Kiranraj TR, Aman Baliyan
• Middle blockers: Jasjodh Singh, Nitin Minhas, Prince Koundal
• Opposite hitters: Anup Dcosta, Nikhil
• Liberos: Shakti Singh, Soyab Chaudhary

Naveen Rathi has said he wanted a mix of senior players and young talent, with experienced campaigners guiding the younger group. Five outside hitters meant real cover in the most demanding position, and two players in each specialist role meant the coaches could rotate without losing quality. We wrote more about this approach in The Road To Building The Perfect Squad.

Did the Strategy Work? What the VCL 2026 Results Say

After a narrow opening loss to Tamil Titans, the Hurricanes won five matches in a row: Delhi Dynamites, NBS Bengaluru Smashers and Hoogly Hitters in Group B, then Punjab AeroStrikers and Emperia Marathas in the Super 6. That run took Haryana into the semi-finals of the inaugural VCL, where Emperia Marathas ended the campaign. Every set score is on the Haryana Hurricanes VCL 2026 fixtures and results page.

For a first-season franchise, a semi-final finish backs up the auction plan: spend big where it matters, then build depth everywhere else. Read how the owner kept the squad focused through that run in Naveen Rathi's playoff philosophy.

Lessons From the Hurricanes' Auction Table

• Pay for impact, not names. One match-winning attacker was worth a record bid.
• Build the spine first. An Icon Player setter plus a top hitter gives the team its identity.
• Depth wins tournaments. Back-up options in every position kept the squad fresh across a packed schedule.
• Blend experience and youth. Senior players set the standard; young players bring energy.

About the Owner

Naveen Rathi

Owner, Haryana Hurricanes | Member, ZRUCC, East Central Railway

Naveen Rathi is the Owner of Haryana Hurricanes, Haryana's franchise in the Volleyball Champions League (VCL) India, and a Member of ZRUCC, East Central Railway. He led the franchise through the VCL 2026 auction and its debut season, taking the Hurricanes to the semi-finals. Read the full Haryana Hurricanes story.