I didn't expect to hit the 50 lakh mark at the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi auction: Mohit Chhillar

Mohit Chhillar has etched his place amongst the best defenders in Kabaddi in his three seasons with U mumba

Former U Mumba defender Mohit Chhillar seemed relatively calm amidst the storm surrounding him. Deep into Friday afternoon, the 22-year-old was officially announced as the highest paid player of Pro Kabaddi season 4 after last seasons, second worst team, Bengaluru Bulls made a successful bid to grab him for a sizeable amount of Rs 53 lakh. A far cry from the Rs. 5.75 lakhs he pocketed in the first auction.

To put things into perspective, Mohit is a boy from the village of Nizampur near Delhi. “I work for the North Western Indian Railways as a clerk”, he said on the phone.

Asked if he still goes to work, Mohit replied, “I only play Kabaddi now. I don’t go to work. I need to take permission from the company to play. But my leave is without pay”. Chhillar, although confident in his abilities didn’t expect to hit the Rs. 50 lakh mark at all.

“I didn’t expect this amount but I knew I’d get paid a decent sum. I was expecting something between 35-40 lacs. My life will stay the same, though. What’s there to change? Practice and keep playing Kabaddi is what I will keep doing”, said the now former U Mumba player.

Mohit plied his trade for U Mumba, three seasons in a row but he sounds like a thorough professional when asked about his former team, “U Mumba was a nice experience for me and Bengaluru Bulls will be nice as well. Coach, Randhir Singh believed in me and I will work very hard and give my 100% to repay his faith”, he said.

It would be fair to say, during his early playing days, Mohit would have hardly imagined he’d be sitting at the top of the auction table. It’s evident from his answers. “When I used to go play the national tournaments, we used to receive scholarships. The amount used to be between Rs.1200 and 3000. The maximum was 10,000”, he said.

Like all of us, Mohit only got to know about his record bid on Twitter. “You know how the reaction is when anyone gets such a huge amount. It was the same with me”, he said. However, Mohit stresses that focusing on the core aspects of Kabaddi is what will ultimately win him plaudits and victories.

This boy from humble beginnings lives with his mother and father. He celebrates his twenty-third birthday on the 13th of July, during the course of season four. A fitting birthday gift for one of the, if not the best defender in the league.