The 2024 Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) auction marked a turning point in the league’s history, signifying a shift in focus towards performance and young talent. Gone are the days when legacy and celebrity guaranteed a spot on the mat. The clear message this season: perform or perish.
This shift was evident in the unsold status of veteran raider Rahul Chaudhari, a former PKL superstar. Chaudhari, who has been a part of every PKL edition, experienced a decline in consistency and ultimately went unselected. His fate mirrored that of other veteran players like Deepak Niwas Hooda and Nitin Tomar, who also struggled to secure a spot in the league.
The auction saw significant backing for emerging players, highlighting a new era of talent. Sachin Tanwar, a hardworking raider known for his consistency, became the top buy, fetching a whopping INR 2.15 crore from the Tamil Thalaivas. Other young raiders like Jai Bhagwan (Bengaluru Bulls), V Ajith Kumar (Puneri Paltan), and Sunil Malik (U Mumba) also attracted substantial bids and fierce competition.
Even established players like Siddharth Desai, known for his ‘Bahubali’ reputation, face a new reality. He must now prove his fitness and consistent contributions to justify his INR 26 lakh price tag. The same holds true for Iranian legend Fazel Atrachali, who saw a significant drop in value, being signed by the Bengal Warriors for just INR 50 lakh. Despite his tactical brilliance, his declining physical abilities impacted his market value.
The auction served as a valuable tool for price correction, particularly for teams fielding expensive players. The Telugu Titans successfully reduced their expenditure on Pawan Sehrawat to INR 1.725 crore from INR 2.61 crore last season, while Shadloui’s price witnessed a marginal decrease from INR 2.35 crore to INR 2.07 crore. Another PKL icon, Pardeep Narwal, garnered a top bid of INR 77 lakh from Bengaluru Bulls, a stark contrast to his previous lofty standards.
Teams were largely conservative in their spending this year, with outfits like Puneri Paltan, Haryana Steelers, and Jaipur Pink Panthers focusing on adding depth to their young core. On the other hand, teams like Tamil Thalaivas, Telugu Titans, Bengaluru Bulls, and Bengal Warriors aimed to build entirely new cores for the upcoming season.
Young Indian raiders from the domestic circuit became prime targets for most franchises. Their lower base prices were attractive, but it also underscored the increased scrutiny of district tournaments and national championships. The emphasis on scouting and nurturing young talent was evident in the continued presence of Randhir Sehrawat, head coach of the Bengaluru Bulls, who has been instrumental in discovering players like Pawan, Pardeep, and Bharat Hooda.
On the international front, Iran once again dominated the player pool, with 17 out of 21 chosen players hailing from the country. However, the return of Jang-Kun Lee to the Patna Pirates sparked hopes for a revival of South Korean Kabaddi. Lee, a veteran with Asian Games medals, brings with him a wealth of experience and a history of success against India.
The PKL’s international reach continues to expand, with players from Bangladesh, Thailand, and Chinese Taipei joining the league. However, nations like Sri Lanka, Kenya, England, and Poland, which had players in the league last season, are absent this year. The Bengaluru Bulls, known for their international player rotations, remain committed to promoting kabaddi globally and offering opportunities for players from different countries to gain experience in the game and culture.
As E. Prasad Rao, a prominent figure in the world of kabaddi, aptly pointed out, it is crucial for teams to provide playing opportunities to international players to truly gauge the quality of the sport in India. The PKL 2024 season promises to be an exciting one, filled with emerging talent, fierce competition, and a renewed focus on performance. The future of the league seems to be in the hands of the next generation of raiders, defenders, and coaches, ready to rewrite the narrative of Pro Kabaddi.
