The much-awaited Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) is back for its 11th season, introducing a fresh format. This time, the league moves from its traditional 12-city caravan to a more compact three-city structure, expected to bring a new dynamic to the competition. The opening match will see Bengaluru Bulls face Telugu Titans in Hyderabad tonight at 8 PM IST. With two games almost every day, we are in for 137 matches of thrilling kabaddi over the next three months.
Big Signings, big Expectations
As always, the stakes are high this season. Tamil Thalaivas made headlines with the blockbuster signing of Sachin Tanwar, while big-money moves by Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh and Sunil Kumar have set the tone for what promises to be an explosive season.
Entering a new decade, most teams have made significant changes at the auction to build well-balanced squads tailored to their playing styles.
Which Team Could Surprise This Year?
Tamil Thalaivas spent a lot of money at the auction and could spring a surprise, especially with the unique coaching duo of Udaya Kumar as head coach and Dharamaraj Cheralathan as strategy coach. Sachin, a specialist in do-or-die raids, could thrive under Cheralathan’s guidance, with raiding duties shared with Narender. The only concern is the lack of all-rounders, apart from new signing Moeen Safaghi. However, if the Thalaivas stay injury-free, their balanced starting lineup could surprise everyone and take home the title.
Bengal Warriors had the best raiding unit last season but struggled in defence. This year, they’ve taken a straightforward approach by retaining Maninder Singh as their lead raider and signing Fazel Atrachali to strengthen their defence. Fazel, an experienced captain, will lead a young defence alongside former UP Yoddhas captain Nitesh Kumar. However, the squad lacks all-rounders, and with limited depth, everything will need to go right for new coach Prashant Surve to clinch the title.
Gujarat Giants have signed 15 players this season, and under the guidance of PKL veteran Ram Mehar Singh, Guman Singh will lead their raiding unit. The squad is relatively young, so all-rounder Mohammad Nabibakhsh will be key to bolstering a defence that appears thin on paper. However, if their new signings gel well, Gujarat could surprise many.
Expectations from the Stars
Pardeep Narwal, the poster boy of PKL who holds most raiding records, has been snapped up by Bengaluru Bulls for just ₹70 lakhs. Dubbed the “Dubki King,” Narwal hasn’t been at his best in recent seasons, but the Bulls hope he can rediscover his form under the mentorship of Randhir Singh Sehrawat, the league’s longest-serving coach, who gave him his PKL debut in Season 2.
Last season’s runner-up, Haryana Steelers, has strengthened its already formidable defence by adding Shadloui. The team plans to use the explosive Iranian as an all-rounder, a role he plays with ease for his national team.
No Big Names, but Big games for some teams
Three-time PKL champions Patna Pirates and Season 2 champions U Mumba have avoided signing marquee players for their squads. However, both teams are well-established and have a history of performing well, so we might witness the rise of new stars from these teams this season.
Telugu Titans, along with Pawan Sehrawat, are looking for a strong finish this year. After several disappointing seasons, they aim to break their cycle of underperformance under new head coach Krishan Kumar Hooda, who previously led Dabang Delhi to the PKL summit in Season 8.
New Beginnings for Dabang Delhi and Jaipur Pink Panthers
Season 8 champions Dabang Delhi K.C. will be eager to reclaim the PKL title after their early exit in the playoffs last season. Ahead of Season 11, Joginder Narwal, who served as an assistant coach under Rambir Singh Khokar, has been promoted to head coach and is expected to bring fresh coaching strategies to the team.
Two-time PKL champions Jaipur Pink Panthers will also be eyeing a return to glory. Led by head coach Sanjeev Baliyan, a two-time PKL winner, they have added 12 new players at the Season 11 auction. It will be interesting to see how they perform this season
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