The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has made a significant change to its schedule as the player auctions are now set to take place on October 9 and 10, according to an announcement by the organizers. ESPN mentioned that initially, these auctions were slated for September 8-9, but the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India intervened, requesting a change in dates to accommodate the preparations of the Indian kabaddi team for the upcoming Asian Games.
U Mumba's Rollercoaster Ride
U Mumba, once a powerhouse in the PKL, has faced a notable decline in recent years. Despite their consistent efforts across multiple seasons, they have been unable to recapture the championship glory. Their struggle continued in the 9th season, where they managed just 10 wins out of 22 matches, resulting in a discouraging 9th-place finish on the points table. The team was tantalizingly close to securing a playoff spot, needing just two more victories, but their hopes were dashed with four losses in their last five matches.
U Mumba's Retained Players
In the roster retention for the forthcoming Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season, U Mumba has made strategic decisions regarding their players. Khel now reported that among the elite retained players are Surinder Singh, Jai Bhagwan, Rinku, and Heydar Ali Eakrami, signifying the team's commitment to experience and skill. Additionally, U Mumba has opted to retain a group of young and promising talents, including Shivam, Shivansh Thakur, Pranay Rane, Rupesh, and Sachin, demonstrating their intent to nurture emerging stars alongside their seasoned veterans. These retention choices reflect U Mumba's blend of youth and experience as they aim to make a strong comeback in the upcoming PKL season.
Asian Games and Indian Kabaddi
The Asian Games, set to commence in China on August 23, will witness kabaddi action beginning on October 4. The Indian men's team, led by coach Ashan Kumar, had its roster announced two weeks ago. Notably, the exclusion of Pardeep Narwal was a surprising development in the 12-man Asian Games squad, while the rest of the team composition remained as expected.
PKL Commissioner's Perspective
Anupam Goswami, the league commissioner of PKL, expressed excitement about the rescheduled auction dates, stating, "We are delighted to announce that the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 Player Auction will now be held immediately after the Asian Games. We are certain that there will be very strong fan excitement and interest in a blockbuster Player Auction, where several star performers from the Asian Games will attract competitive bidding from the PKL teams."
Return of the Caravan Format
PKL 10 is set to reintroduce the caravan format, where the league will travel to the home cities of each of the 12 teams. This format makes a comeback after two years, with PKL 8 having been played in a bio-bubble in Bengaluru due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and PKL 9 having been held across Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.
A Dual Focus on the Asian Games
While PKL 10 is scheduled to commence on December 2, India's kabaddi stars will be in action even before that at the Asian Games. Under the leadership of coach Ashan Kumar and captain Pawan Sehrawat, the Indian team aims to regain the Asian Games gold medal, which slipped from their grasp in 2018 as Iran emerged victorious. India holds the distinction of being the most successful team at the Asian level, having secured gold in every edition of the Asian Games since 1990.
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