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Meet the players who have never gone under the hammer in the PKL Player Auction
Most PKL franchises head to the Player Auction to select players who can add more value in the long run. The bond between a player and a team plays a vital role in the success of both parties. If a player is retained by the team management season after season and is kept in the scheme of things, it helps to build a strong foundation for an eventful season.
Keeping the Season 11 Player Auction in mind, let's look at the 11 players who were never auctioned in PKL and have continued to be with the same franchises so far.
Naveen Kumar | Dabang Delhi K.C.
Dabang Delhi K.C. has stuck with Naveen Kumar for the past five PKL seasons, and he has proved to be their most consistent player over the years. "Naveen Express" ranks sixth in the top raiders list with 1005 raid points in PKL history. He went all out for the capital city and played a vital role in helping them lift the trophy in Season 8. Naveen was also awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) twice, in Seasons 7 and 8, for his stellar performances. He has also been effective as a full-time skipper, leading them into the Playoffs in the ninth PKL edition.
Bharat has been fabulous for the Bulls since he debuted in PKL Season 8. The young raider has been on the rise, scoring crucial points for his side in pressure situations. He has been among the top scorers for Bengaluru Bulls in the past three seasons. The star raider claimed the top raider’s award in Season 9 for scoring 279 raid points. In 64 PKL matches, Bharat has earned 520 points, including 497 raid points and 23 tackle points for his team. The raging bull has lived up to the expectations of his team’s head coach, Randhir Singh Sehrawat.
Similar to Bharat, PKL Season 10 trophy-winning captain Aslam Inamdar has delivered for the Paltan in the last three seasons. The all-rounder has been a vital cog in the wheel for Puneri Paltan. He has emerged as one of their best players and helped them lift the trophy after a long wait of nine seasons. Aslam has been reliable for the defending champions, amassing 150 or more points in each PKL season. He proved his mettle by not only claiming the MVP award in Season 10 but also leading his side to 16 wins in the tournament.
In terms of scoring, Mohit Goyat is not too far behind his Puneri Paltan captain Aslam Inamdar. Mohit joined PKL in Season 8 along with Aslam. In his debut season, Mohit added 187 points to his tally and became the Emerging Player of the Season. He gained confidence with each passing season and chipped in heavily for the Paltan in Season 9 and Season 10. In total, he has scored 475 points, which includes 401 raid points and 74 tackle points in his PKL career. He was a force to be reckoned with for the defending champions in Season 10, who stole the show with his all-around skills.
The experienced campaigner, Surender Gill, knows how to go about his job for the Yoddhas, and that is what keeps him going on the mat. In four PKL seasons, the prolific raider has starred for the Yoddhas with 510 points in 65 matches. He has made a name for himself in the side even in the presence of U.P. Yoddhas’ star raider, Pardeep Narwal. Except for Season 10, where Surender met with an injury and missed most of the matches, the Yoddhas have qualified for the seasons they have participated in, which speaks volumes about his contribution to the side.
Nitesh Kumar and U.P. Yoddhas entered kabaddi’s grandest stage, the Pro Kabaddi League, together in Season 5 and have continued to maintain their partnership so far. The right corner has been the leader of the pack for the Yoddhas in defence, with 350 tackle points. He was the first New Young Player (NYP) awardee in PKL Season 5. Nitesh also holds the record for scoring the most tackle points (100) by a defender in a PKL campaign in Season 6 and was awarded the top defender of the season. He has also led the charge for U.P. Yoddhas as a skipper and has done a decent job for the franchise.
Nitesh’s partner in defence, Sumit, has also looked rock solid for the Yoddhas in the past four PKL seasons. Sumit, who plays at the left corner position, made his mark in Season 7 with 77 tackle points and was the second-best defender of the season. He was declared the New Young Player of the Season for his standout defending skills. The team knew his worth and continued to have his services for the next three seasons. Sumit has produced 254 tackle points for the Yoddhas in 89 matches and has been an esteemed defender for the side in the Pro Kabaddi League.
Though it’s been only two seasons since Narender joined Tamil Thalaivas, he has been magnificent for the team. He has shown immense maturity and turned out to be the most important asset in the Thalaivas lineup. The Thalaiva took the scoring responsibilities on his shoulders in the absence of Pawan Sehrawat, who missed the entire season due to an injury in his first game of Season 9. He was also adjudged the New Young Player of the Season for his exceptional performance throughout the tournament. Narender has garnered 429 raid points in his PKL career.
Neeraj Kumar has been associated with Patna Pirates since Pro Kabaddi League Season 7. He has been one of the key weapons in the Pirates' arsenal. The right cover has helped the three-time champions, Patna Pirates, lift their defence game on the mat. He has also performed the leadership role effectively for the side. Neeraj’s debut PKL season proved to be his best-ever campaign, in which he scored 59 tackle points. So far, he has produced 172 tackle points in four PKL seasons.
Ankush | Jaipur Pink Panthers
Ankush has been the top defender for the two-time champions, Jaipur Pink Panthers, in the last two seasons. He not only became a PKL champion in his debut PKL season but he also won the top defender’s award in Season 9. Ankush managed to keep the raiders at bay in both seasons and established himself as one of the best corners in the league. The young defender amassed 89 tackle points in his debut season and followed it up by scoring 70 tackle points in Season 10.
Saurabh Nandal | Bengaluru Bulls
Saurabh Nandal has been the backbone of the Bulls’ defence over the seasons. He earned 56 tackle points when he made his debut in PKL Season 7 and became the biggest match-winner in defence for the side in the following two seasons. The right corner contributed with 69 and 72 tackle points in Season 8 and Season 9, respectively. In 92 matches he has played for the Bulls, he has scored 246 tackle points.
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