Mumbai: The first day of the Central Domestic Player Draft of the Hero Indian Super League was held at the Palladium Hotel in Mumbai on Tuesday.

In all, 26 Indian national football team players were drafted by officials from the eight participating clubs ahead of the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League cricket-style format, which runs from this September to November.

In the biggest of the drafts, India and Churchill Brothers midfielder Lenny Rodrigues, 27, went to Team Pune and East Bengal midfielder Mehtab Hussain, 28, joined Kochi Blasters. Meanwhile, Vestjaelland goalkeeper Subrata Paul, 27, joined Mumbai City, Salgoacar midfielder Francis Fernandes, 28, went to Delhi Dynamos and Rangdajied defender Gouramangi Singh, 27, joined Team Bengaluru along with 2013 All India Football Federation Player of the Year awardee striker Jeje Lalpekhlua, 23, from Dempo.

Each team will be allowed to sign eight foreign players, one of which can be a marquee player, but as yet these slots are still to be confirmed.

So far, former England and Liverpool goalkeeper David James, 43, has joined Kerala Blasters from Iceland’s IBV, while Atletico Kolkata has signed Spanish duo, Luis Garcia, 36, a midfielder formerly of England’s Liverpool from Mexico’s Pumas Unam, and Borja Fernandez, 33, a midfielder formerly of Spain’s Real Madrid from fellow Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna.

Botswanan midfielder Ofentse Nato, 24, has also joined Kolkata from South Africa’s Mpumalanga Black Aces.

Delhi Dynamos have signed Danish duo Mads Junker, 33, a striker once of Dutch side Vitesse from Holland’s KV Mechelen, and Morten Skoubo, 34, a striker who played for Dutch side Roda from Denmark’s OB.

Elsewhere, North East United have snapped up Spanish defender Joan Capdevila, 36, formerly of Spain’s Deportivo La Coruna from fellow Spanish club Espanyol.

Meanwhile, Pune have recruited Italian duo Bruno Cirillo, 37, a defender once of Greece’s PAOK from fellow Greek side AEK Athens and Emanuele Belardi, 36, a goalkeeper formerly with Italy’s Reggina from fellow Italian side Pescara.