Exclusive: Anup Kumar suggests for change in do-and-die raid rules in PKL

Captain Cool insisted on organizing more domestic tournaments.

Anup Kumar is renowned as one of India's greatest kabaddi players. He served as the captain of the Indian team and also led the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) teams for several seasons. He is celebrated for leading U Mumba to the title win in the second season and is widely known in the kabaddi community as "Captain Cool." Anup Kumar is not afraid to express his opinions on various matters and consistently advocates for the advancement of kabaddi. In an exclusive chat with Khel Now he discussed his career and the future of PKL.

Commentary is more difficult than playing in PKL

Transitioning into commentary proved to be a challenging task for him. After retiring from PKL, Anup Kumar took up coaching for Puneri Paltan. However, he didn't experience significant success in this role. Despite being credited for nurturing many players, Puneri Paltan's overall performance did not witness substantial improvement under his leadership. Subsequently, Anup Kumar tried his hand at commentary but found it more demanding than playing kabaddi.

He stated, "Every new endeavor is difficult, whether it's playing kabaddi or doing commentary. I possess extensive experience in kabaddi, so that aspect was relatively easier for me. Kabaddi has been a part of our lives since childhood, so it was not a big challenge for us. However, when it comes to commentary, embarking on something new brings hesitancy. I encountered the same feelings."

Having an identity is more important than money

For Anup Kumar, identity holds greater importance than financial gain. In the past, kabaddi players didn't receive much recognition due to inadequate media coverage. Nevertheless, the inception of PKL brought about a transformation, and kabaddi players gained widespread acknowledgment. Anup Kumar emphasized that being recognized and having an identity is more significant to him than monetary benefits. Now, wherever they go, people recognize them, and this recognition is owed to PKL.

He said, "PKL has brought significant changes to all the players. The most crucial aspect is that people now recognize us, and this holds more significance for me than financial gains. PKL has made it possible."

Never thought the league will become this popular

Anup Kumar admitted that he never anticipated PKL to attain such enormous success. With 10 successful years completed, the Pro Kabaddi League is the second most-watched league in India after IPL. The league has consistently reached new heights since its first season. In the past, players used to earn 12-15 lakhs, but now they receive more than 2 crores. Anup Kumar believes that due to the significant demand for kabaddi, the league will never come to an end.

He stated, "When PKL commenced, nobody foresaw its tremendous success. From the first season until now, the league has continuously soared to new heights. The players' earnings have significantly increased, and I don't think the league will ever cease to exist because there is a tremendous demand for kabaddi."

Do-or-die raid rules should be changed

In order to intensify the excitement in the game, a new rule was introduced - the 'Do or Die' rule. If a raider fails to score points in two consecutive raids then the third raid becomes 'Do or Die', which means the raider has to get a point anyhow else he'll be out. Anup Kumar proposes that to accelerate the pace of the game, the 'Do or Die' raid should be limited to just one attempt. He believes this change will add more thrill to the game.

The king of Bonus said, “The game became very interesting when the rule of do-and-die raids was introduced. Now that 9 seasons have passed, I feel that the second raid should be made a do-or-die raid. I want this one to change now. This will make the game faster and will excite people a lot."

More domestic tournaments should be introduced

Similar to PKL, Anup Kumar suggests organizing more tournaments at the domestic level to maintain the momentum. The Pro Kabaddi League has given kabaddi the recognition it deserved, but he believes that having one or two more tournaments with extensive coverage, similar to PKL, will further elevate the sport.

He explained, "Consistency is vital in the game. The more coverage we receive on social media and TV, the more kabaddi will benefit, and talented players will emerge. Besides PKL, there are no tournaments at the domestic level that receive extensive coverage. Therefore, having one or two more tournaments like PKL will keep the sport in the limelight."