The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) is gearing up for another thrilling season, with Season 11 kicking off in Hyderabad on October 18. In the fast-paced world of PKL, coaches, along with their players, they play a crucial role in determining a team’s success.
Behind the scenes, coaches work diligently to prepare players for the intense battles that define the Pro Kabaddi League. As Season 11 approaches, let’s take a look at the head coaches who will be at the helm of the 12 teams in the upcoming season.
U Mumba: Gholamreza Mazandarani
The PKL Season 2 winners, U Mumba, have named Gholamreza Mazandarani as their head coach for Season 11. This will be Mazandarani’s second stint with the Mumbai-based franchise, having previously led the Mumboys to the playoffs in Season 6.
Mazandarani has also coached the Telugu Titans and is well-known for guiding the Iran kabaddi team to gold in the 2018 Asian Games.
Bengaluru Bulls: Randhir Singh Sehrawat
Randhir Singh Sehrawat, a well-known figure in the PKL, has been reappointed as the head coach of Bengaluru Bulls for Season 11. Randhir has been with the Bengaluru franchise since the league’s inception and guided them to their first PKL title in Season 6.
The Arjuna Award winner has extensive experience with the men’s and women’s kabaddi teams of the Indian Railways before joining the Bulls. After narrowly missing out on the playoffs last year, he aims for a strong campaign in Season 11.
Bengal Warriorz: Prashant Surve
The Bengal Warriorz, who won the PKL title in Season 7, have appointed Prashant Surve as their new head coach for the upcoming season. Surve, who has served as an assistant coach for the franchise since Season 9, has now been elevated to the head coach position.
The Kolkata-based franchise decided to part ways with former head coach K Baskaran after the Warriors failed to qualify for the playoffs last season. Former kabaddi player Praveen Yadav, who has been offering free training for kids at Gurugram’s Tau Devilal Stadium, will serve as the assistant coach.
Dabang Delhi K.C.: Joginder Narwal
Joginder Narwal, who served as an assistant coach under former Dabang Delhi K.C. head coach Rambir Singh Khokar, has been promoted to head coach ahead of PKL Season 11.
As a former defender, Joginder captained Dabang Delhi K.C. to a PKL title win in 2018. Last season, the Delhi-based team narrowly missed out on a semi-final spot after a tight contest with the Patna Pirates in Season 10’s Eliminator 1.
Gujarat Giants: Ram Mehar Singh
Ram Mehar Singh, a respected name in the Indian kabaddi circuit with a solid track record in the PKL, has been reappointed as head coach of Gujarat Giants for the upcoming season.
His coaching credentials are well-established, having led Patna Pirates to glory in Season 5. A two-time Asian Games Gold Medalist, Ram Mehar joined Gujarat Giants in Season 9 and guided them to a playoff finish in Season 10.
Haryana Steelers: Manpreet Singh
Manpreet Singh, a former Pro Kabaddi champion with Patna Pirates, has been reinstated as the head coach of Haryana Steelers for the upcoming season.
His coaching journey took off in Season 5 when he led Gujarat Giants to consecutive runner-up finishes. After joining Haryana Steelers in Season 9, he successfully guided them to a runners-up finish in Season 10.
Jaipur Pink Panthers: Sanjeev Baliyan
The PKL Season 9 champions, Jaipur Pink Panthers, have decided to retain Sanjeev Baliyan as their head coach for the upcoming season.
An Arjuna Awardee, Baliyan has an impressive coaching record, having won titles with Patna Pirates in Season 3 and Jaipur Pink Panthers in Season 9. Last season, the Jaipur franchise finished second in the league stage under his guidance.
Patna Pirates: Narender Redhu
Narender Redhu, a young kabaddi coach and former assistant coach of Haryana Steelers, has been reappointed as head coach of Patna Pirates for the upcoming season.
Having joined Patna Pirates’ camp in Season 10, Redhu has extensive experience coaching international kabaddi teams. Last season, he helped the Pirates reach the playoffs, and he will be aiming for title glory in Season 11.
Puneri Paltan: BC Ramesh
After leading Puneri Paltan to their first-ever PKL final in Season 9, head coach BC Ramesh guided them to championship success last season. The Arjuna Awardee, known for his successful coaching track record in the PKL, has been retained as Puneri Paltan’s head coach for Season 11.
Ramesh was previously the assistant coach of Bengaluru Bulls during their triumphant Season 6 campaign and also served as head coach of Bengal Warriors during their title-winning Season 7.
Tamil Thalaivas: Udaya Kumar and Dharmaraj Cheralathan
For the first time in PKL history, Tamil Thalaivas have opted for a dual-coach system by appointing Udaya Kumar as chief coach and Dharmaraj Cheralathan as strategy coach for Season 11.
Udaya Kumar brings a wealth of experience, having coached the Indian kabaddi team to gold medals at the Asian Games in 2002, 2006, and 2014. Cheralathan, a key player in Patna Pirates’ Season 4 PKL victory, is recognized for his strategic insight and quick thinking during matches.
Telugu Titans: Krishan Kumar Hooda
Krishan Kumar Hooda, a well-respected name in the PKL, has been appointed as the head coach of Telugu Titans for Season 11. This decision comes after the Titans finished at the bottom of the points table for the third consecutive season.
Players like Vijay Malik and Naveen Kumar gained recognition under Hooda’s coaching at Dabang Delhi K.C., where he led them to a PKL title in Season 8. The Dronacharya Award winner will be hoping to turn the franchise’s fortunes around with his appointment.
UP Yoddhas: Jasveer Singh
Jasveer Singh, the seasoned head coach of UP Yoddhas, has been reappointed for the upcoming season. After retiring from the army, Jasveer joined the team in 2018.
While the Yoddhas have generally been consistent under his leadership, they finished 11th last season, which the former Services coach aims to improve in Pro Kabaddi Season 11.
