PKL 10: UP Yoddhas retention list

The team has retained all its big players.

UP Yoddhas in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) have a track record of consistent performance each season. This indicates that ever since joining PKL, they’ve consistently secured a playoff spot. Despite not yet clinching the team title, their repeated playoff appearances underscore their prowess. Paralleling the Indian cricket team’s struggles in the semifinals and finals, UP Yoddhas face a similar scenario in PKL. Despite a strong position in the prior season, the team suffered a loss in the tiebreaker.

Looking forward to the upcoming season, UP Yoddhas have held onto many key players. They’ve retained a total of seven players, primarily consisting of their experienced athletes. Let’s discover who these retained players are for UP Yoddhas.

Elite Retained Players:

1. Pardeep Narwal – The team has reaffirmed their faith in their premier raider, Pardeep Narwal, and the franchise is resolute in retaining him under all circumstances. Pardeep Narwal’s exceptional performances have validated this choice. In the 9th PKL season, when Surinder Gill faced an injury, a significant burden fell on Pardeep Narwal’s shoulders. He adeptly shouldered this responsibility, teaming up with assist raider Rohit Tomar to guide the team to the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. In the previous season, the Dubki King garnered 220 points across 22 matches, securing the sixth spot in this aspect.

2. Nitesh Kumar – The second player retained in this category is Nitesh Kumar. In the previous season, he also captained the team. However, due to a series of lackluster performances, he relinquished the captaincy. Nitesh Kumar’s tally of 34 points in 22 matches might have been modest, but the franchise’s unwavering confidence in him remains intact. Nitesh Kumar possesses the capacity to single-handedly sway matches in favor of the team through his defensive prowess.

Retained Young Players:

1. Sumit – The initial player retained in this category is Sumit. In the prior PKL season, Sumit emerged as a standout defender for the UP Yoddhas. He accumulated 54 tackle points over 21 matches. With Sumit joining forces once again with Nitesh Kumar, their lethal partnership is expected to be on display in the 10th season.

2. Ashu Singh – The formidable right-cover defender, Ashu Singh, will continue to be a part of the UP Yoddhas for another season. In the preceding season, he stood as the team’s second-best defender, amassing 49 points in 23 matches. The trio of Ashu Singh, Sumit, and Nitesh Kumar, a combination eagerly awaited by fans each season, is poised to maintain its brilliance this time around as well.

3. Surinder Gill – The team has chosen to keep Surinder Gill, another exceptional raider, as part of their lineup. He remains with the team, forming a partnership with Pardeep Narwal and contributing significantly to the team’s advancement. In the previous season, he was sidelined due to an injury, limiting him to just 14 matches. Despite this, he managed to amass an impressive 140 raid points. Additionally, he showcased his defensive skills by earning points on several occasions. Surinder Gill consistently proved his worth in every match he participated in.

New Young Players:

1. Anil Kumar – In the category of new young players, Anil Kumar has been retained as a backup. He can serve as a substitute for both Pardeep Narwal and Surinder Gill, which is why the franchise has retained him. During the 9th season, he secured 18 points across 7 matches.

2. Mahipal – Another young player, Mahipal, has also been retained by the UP Yoddhas as a backup raider. Alongside keeping their main raiders, the team has retained two backup raiders as well, rounding out their raiding department. This ensures that they won’t need to invest extra effort into this department during the matches.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Kabaddi on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.