PKL 10: Dabang Delhi retain Naveen Kumar and several superstars

The season 8 champions have retained only five players for the upcoming edition.

Ahead of the 10th season of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) auction, the confident Dabang Delhi franchise has unveiled a list of retained players. Out of these, only five players have been retained. Delhi has opted to retain players from the young players and new young players categories, while no player has been retained in the elite retained category.

Given the makeup of the Delhi team, there wasn’t a prominent veteran suitable for retention in the elite category. This has led to a focus on nurturing young talent. The retained players mostly fall under the category of raiders. Let’s delve into the specifics of the players that Delhi has retained in preparation for the 10th PKL season.

Retained Young Players by Dabang Delhi:

1. Navin Kumar – After securing victory in the 8th PKL season, Navin Kumar took on the role of captain for Dabang Delhi in the 9th season. He continued his impressive performance as captain, amassing 254 points across 23 matches and becoming the third-highest scorer of the season. For the upcoming season, Dabang Delhi has decided to retain Navin Kumar as their captain.

New Young Players by Dabang Delhi:

1. Vijay Kumar – Dabang Delhi has retained specialist left corner player Vijay Kumar for the 10th PKL season. Despite not playing in the previous season, he has been given another opportunity in the new young players’ category.

2. Manjeet Sharma – Gold medalist from the junior world championship, right raider Manjeet Sharma, has been retained by Dabang Delhi. He showcased an impressive performance in the 9th PKL season, racking up 69 points in 20 matches.

3. Ashish Narwal – The franchise has retained another young raider, Ashish Narwal. He participated in seven matches in the prior season, earning 10 points. The 10th season might offer him more opportunities to showcase his skills.

4. Suraj Panwar – Despite not having a chance to play in the previous season, the franchise has retained young player Suraj Panwar. Whether he will be given a chance to play in the upcoming season remains uncertain.

In the last season, Dabang Delhi couldn’t advance beyond the playoffs. Although they reached the playoffs, further progress eluded them, and they concluded the season in sixth place under Navin Kumar’s captaincy. The team began the season strongly but faced a decline in performance. With the appointment of Rambir Singh Khokhar as the new head coach before the upcoming season, it remains intriguing to observe the potential trajectory of this young team in the upcoming season.

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