The dynamic landscape of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2023 has been shaped as the franchises concluded their squad formations during the electrifying two-day Player Auction held in Mumbai. As the league gears up for its landmark 10th season, let’s delve into an overview of how each team is poised for the upcoming battles.
In the 2017 and 2018–19 seasons, PKL underwent a significant transformation, introducing four new teams and adopting a format that split the teams into two divisions referred to as zones. However, the league reverted to its traditional double round-robin format from the 2019 season onward.
The kabaddi mat is set to witness a mesmerizing display of skill and intensity, as teams showcase their strategic prowess and vie for supremacy in this thrilling sporting extravaganza. As the countdown to the 10th season ticks away, fans can anticipate an action-packed journey, with each match promising to be a testament to the global appeal and competitive spirit of Pro Kabaddi.
Pro Kabaddi League 2023 Teams and Squads
Bengal Warriors
In a significant development for the upcoming 10th season of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), ace raider Maninder Singh is set to take the helm as the captain of the former champions, Bengal Warriors. The much-anticipated season is scheduled to kick off in Ahmedabad on December 2.
Team Owner: Capri Sports
Team Captain: Maninder Singh
Top Buy: Maninder Singh| ₹2.12 crore
Total Players in the squad: 19
| Position | Players |
| Raiders | Maninder Singh, Shrikant Jadhav, Suyog Baban Gaikar, Prashant Kumar, Aslam Saja Mohamed Thambi, Akshay Jaywant Bodake, Vishwas S, Chai-Ming Chang, Nitin Kumar, R Guhan, Maharudra Garje |
| Defenders | Shubham Shinde, Vaibhav Bhausaheb Garje. Aditya S. Shinde, Akshay Kumar, Shreyas Umbardand, Dipak Arjun Shinde |
| All-Rounders | Nitin Rawal, Bhoir Akshay Bharat |
2. Bengaluru Bulls
Team Owner: WL LEAGUE PRIVATE LIMITED
Team Captain: Saurabh Nandal
Top Buy: Vikash Kandola| ₹55.25 lac
Total Players in the squad:25
At the forefront of the retained players for Bengaluru Bulls stands the dynamic raider, Neeraj Narwal. Renowned for his agile and explosive raiding style, Narwal has emerged as a consistent performer and an invaluable asset to the team. His ability to seize crucial points in high-pressure situations has elevated him to the status of an elite player within the Pro Kabaddi League.
| Position | Players |
| Raiders | Bharat Hooda, Vikash Kandola, Neeraj Narwal, Monu, Abhishek Singh, Sushil Gulia, Banty Bazzad, Piotr Pamulak, Akshit Dhull |
| Defenders | Aman Antil, Saurabh Nandal, Yash Hooda, Surjeet Singh, Vishal Bhardwaj Dehlan, Ankit, Parteek, Sunder, Rakshith, Rohit Kumar, Ponparthiban Subramanian, Md. Liton Ali, Arulnanthababu, Aditya Shankar Powar |
| All-Rounders | Sachin Narwal, Ran Singh |
3. Dabang Delhi K.C
Team Owner: Mrs Radha Kapoor Khanna
Team Captain: Naveen Kumar
Top Buy: Ashu Malik| ₹96.25 lac
Total Players in the squad: 20
Dabang Delhi K.C., the champions of the eighth season, has officially declared that Naveen Kumar Goyat will retain his role as captain for the upcoming Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2023 season. Joining him in a leadership capacity is left-corner player Vishal Bhardwaj, who has been appointed as the team’s deputy captain.
| Position | Players |
| Raiders | Ashu Malik, Naveen Kumar, Ashish Narwal, Suraj Panwar, Manjeet, Meetu, Manu |
| Defenders | Vijay, Vishal Bhardwaj, Sunil, Nitin Chandel, Balasaheb Shahaji Jadhav, Felix Li, Yuvraj Pandeya, Mohit, Vikrant, Ashish, Himmat Antil, Yogesh |
| All-Rounders | Akash Prasher |
4. Gujarat Giants
Team Owner: Adani Wilmar Ltd.
Team Captain: Fazel Atrachali
Top Buy: Fazel Atrachali| ₹1.60 crore
Total Players in the squad: 20
For Gujrat Giants Coach Ram Mehar Singh is a meticulous strategist, unwavering in his vision for the team’s lineup and desired formations on the mat. His pursuit of perfection is evident, leading him to appoint the seasoned Iranian stalwart, Fazel Atrachali, as the captain. Fazel’s partnership with Nabibakhsh, particularly as a corner-cover duo, has proven to be a formidable force.
| Position | Players |
| Raiders | Rohan Singh, Arkam Shaikh, Mohammad Esmaeil Nabibakhsh, Rohit Gulia, Balaji D, Vikas Jaglan, Jitender Yadav |
| Defenders | Sourav Gulia, Manuj, Fazel Atrachali, Sombir, Ravi Kumar, Deepak Rajender Singh, Nitesh |
| All-Rounders | Akash Prasher |
5. Haryana Steelers
Team Owner: JSW Sports
Team Captain: Mohit Nandal
Top Buy: Siddharth Desai| ₹1 crore
Total Players in the squad: 21
Haryana Steelers is set on a strategic path, opting to retain eight players while making a significant acquisition in the form of Siddarth Desai, secured through the auctions at a substantial sum of Rs 1 crore. The team also made a noteworthy investment in Chandran Ranjith, another skilled raider. Recognizing the challenges faced in raiding during the previous season, the Steelers have made a concerted effort to fortify this aspect of their gameplay, aiming for a more robust and well-rounded performance in the upcoming season.
| Position | Players |
| Raiders | Vinay, K. Prapanjan, Siddharth Sirish Desai, Chandran Ranjit, Ghanshyam Roka Magar, Hasan Balbool, Shivam Anil Patare, Vishal S. Tate, Jaya Soorya NS |
| Defenders | Naveen, Harsh, Mohit, Monu, Sunny, Jaideep, Mohit, Rahul Sethpal, Hardeep, Himanshu Choudhary, Ravindra Chouhan |
| All-Rounders | Ashish |
6. Jaipur Pink Panthers
Team Owner: Abhishek Bachchan
Team Captain: Sunil Kumar Malik
Top Buy: Lavish | ₹63 lacs
Total Players in the squad: 19
In a calculated approach during the auction, Jaipur Pink Panthers selectively acquired players deemed worthy of substantial investments. The team exercised discernment, securing a total of seven players at disclosed amounts. The most significant expenditure was directed towards Lavish, for whom they allocated a substantial Rs 62 Lakhs in the auction. This focused and strategic spending underscores the team’s commitment to securing talent deemed valuable to their objectives for the upcoming season.
| Position | Players |
| Raiders | Navneet, Rahul Chaudhari, Ajith V Kumar, Arjun Deshwal, Amir Hossein Mohammadmaleki, Devank, Bhavani Rajput, Abhimanyu Raghuvanshi, Shashank B, Abhijeet Malik |
| Defenders | Lucky Sharma, Sunil Kumar, Sahul Kumar, Ankush, Abhishek KS, Ashish, Reza Mirbagheri, Lavish, Sumit |
| All-Rounders | Ashish |
7. Patna Pirates
Team Owner: Rajesh.V. Shah
Team Captain: Neeraj Kumar
Top Buy: Manjeet| ₹92 lacs
Total Players in the squad: 22
In a concerted effort to reclaim their position at the summit, Patna Pirates have significantly reinforced their squad by adding 13 new players. The crown jewel of their acquisitions is the prolific raider, Manjeet, whose exceptional skills bring a dynamic flair to the team. Further strengthening their defensive lineup, the Pirates secured the services of Krishan, a seasoned defender who previously played for Dabang Delhi, at a noteworthy investment of Rs 17.20 Lakhs.
| Position | Players |
| Raiders | Sachin, Ranjit Venkatramana Naik, Anuj Kumar, Rakesh Narwal, Manjeet, Kunal Mehta, Sudhakar M, Zheng-Wei Chen, Sandeep Kumar |
| Defenders | Neeraj Kumar, Thiyagarajan Yuvaraj, Naveen Sharma, Manish, Krishan, Mahendra Choudhary, Abinand Subhash, Sanjay, Deepak Kumar |
| All-Rounders | Daniel Omondi Odhiambo, Sajin Chandrasekar , Ankit, Rohit |
8. Puneri Paltan
Team Owner: Insurekot Sports Pvt. Ltd.
Team Captain: Aslam Inamdar
Top Buy: Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh| ₹2.35 crore
Total Players in the squad: 18
Despite retaining several key players, Puneri Paltan made the strategic decision to part ways with their captain, Fazel Atrachali. Notably, among the retained players is Aslam Inamdar, who emerged as the breakout star of the previous season, showcasing his ability to contribute points both in defence and attack.
To fill the void left by the departure of Fazel Atrachali, Puneri Paltan exhibited a proactive approach in the auction. Their standout acquisition was the rising Iranian sensation, Mohammadreza Shadlou, secured for the second-highest amount in the auction at Rs 2.35 Crore. The team, demonstrating a focused approach, added only five players to their roster through the auction. This strategic manoeuvring reflects Paltan’s commitment to a judicious mix of retained talent and carefully chosen additions to fortify their squad for the upcoming season.
| Position | Players |
| Raiders | Pankaj Mohite, Aditya Tushar Shinde, Mohit Goyat, Akash Santosh Shinde, Nitin |
| Defenders | Abinesh Nadarajan, Gaurav Khatri, Sanket Sawant, Badal Taqdir Singh, Vaibhav Balasaheb Kamble, Ishwar, Hardeep, Vahid RezaEimehr, Dadaso Shivaji Pujari, Tushar Dattaray Adhavade |
| All-Rounders | Aslam Mustafa Inamdar, Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh, Ahmed Mustafa Enamdar |
9. Tamil Thalaivas
Team Owner: Magica Sports Ventures Private Limited
Team Captain: Sagar Rathee
Top Buy: Masanamuthu Lakshnanan| ₹31.60 lac
Total Players in the squad: 21
Tamil Thalaivas have officially revealed Sagar Rathee as their captain for the eagerly anticipated 10th season of the Pro Kabaddi League. The strategic leadership lineup is further fortified with the appointment of Ajinkya Pawar and Sahil Gulia as vice-captains, culminating in a formidable trio at the helm. This leadership configuration not only brings a wealth of experience but also infuses youthful exuberance, establishing a perfect balance for guiding the team through the challenges and competitions of the upcoming season.
| Position | Players |
| Raiders | Ajinkya Ashok Pawar, Himanshu, Narender, Himanshu Singh, Selvamani K, Vishal Chahal, Nitin Singh, Jatin, Masanamuthu Lakshnanan, Satish Kannan |
| Defenders | Sagar, Himanshu, M. Abishek, Sahil, Mohit, Aashish, Amirhossein Bastami, Nitesh Kumar, Ronak, Mohammadreza Kaboudrahangi |
| All-Rounders | Ritik |
10. Telugu Titans
Team Owner: Srinivas Sreeramaneni – Veera Sports
Team Captain: Pawan Kumar Sehrawat
Top Buy: Pawan Kumar Sehrawat| ₹ 2605 crore
Total Players in the squad: 18
Telugu Titans’ captain-designate, Rohit, enters the season on a high note after a Gold-winning campaign in the Asian Games. Among the retained players, the offensive responsibilities fall on the shoulders of Vainay, the sole retained raider. On the defensive front, the Titans boast the talents of Parvesh Bainswal, Mohit, and Nitin, while Rajnish stands out as a versatile all-rounder. This well-rounded composition underscores the Titans’ commitment to a balanced and competitive squad for the upcoming season.
| Position | Players |
| Raiders | Rajnish, Vinay, Pawan Kumar Sehrawat, Omkar Narayan Patil, Praful Sudam Zaware, Robin Chaudhary |
| Defenders | Parvesh Bhainswal, Mohit, Nitin, Ankit, Gaurav Dahiya, Ajit Pandurang Pawar, Mohit, Milad Jabbari |
| All-Rounders | Shankar Bhimraj Gadai, Sanjeevi S, Omkar R. More, Hamid Mirzaei Nader |
11. U Mumba
Team Owner: Ronnie Screwvala
Team Captain: Surinder Singh
Top Buy: Guman Singh| ₹85 lac
Total Players in the squad: 22
| Position | Players |
| Raiders | Jai Bhagwan, Guman Singh, Pranav Vinay Rane, Rupesh, Sachin, Shivam, Heidarali Ekrami, Saurav Parthe, Rohit Yadav, Alireza Mirzaeian, Kunal |
| Defenders | Surinder Singh, Rinku, Shivansh Thakur, Girish Maruti Ernak, Mahender Singh, Sombir, Mukilan Shanmugam, Gokulakannan M., Bittu |
| All-Rounders | Visvanath V., Amir Mohammad Zafardanesh |
12. U.P. Yoddhas
Team Owner: GMR League Games Pvt. Ltd
Team Captain: Pradeep Narwal
Top Buy: Vijay Malik| ₹85 lac
Total Players in the squad: 18
| Position | Players |
| Raiders | Pardeep Narwal, Surender Gill, Anil Kumar, Mahipal, Gulveer Singh, Shivam Chaudhary, Gagana Gowda HR |
| Defenders | Nitesh Kumar, Sumit, Ashu Singh, Kiran Laxman Magar, Harendra Kumar, Hitesh |
| All-Rounders | Gurdeep, Nitin Panwar, Vijay Malik, Helvic Simuyu Wanjala, Samuel Wanjala Wafula |
