Feels good to be in same team as Fazel & Maninder says 'Banjara Express' Akash Chavhan: PKL 11 Exclusive

Akash Chavhan also spoke about his journey from humble beginnings in Vadodara.

It is not often that Category D players (New Young Players) at the Pro Kabaddi League auction, gain a lot of attention. However, Bengal Warriorz’s Akash Chavhan is a big exception to that. Even before stepping onto the mat in the toughest kabaddi league in the world, Akash comes in with a whopping fanbase. This is testified by the fact that he has nearly 65K followers on Instagram, a number which is likely to increase many folds in the upcoming months.

Coming in after a good domestic season, the ‘Banjara Express’ was picked up at the PKL 11 auctions by the Warriorz at his base price of Rs. 9 lakhs. In a team that boasts some of the biggest names in the game, he is likely to have a life-changing experience.

Akash Chavhan took some time aside from his hectic training schedule and spoke with Khel Now TV. In an exclusive interview, he discussed his journey from humble beginnings in Vadodara, his aim for the upcoming season, and the background story of the title he has been given.

Here are some of the excerpts from the interview.

Debut season with the Warriorz’s

Akash Chavhan who is all set to make a stellar debut was not only raring to go but is hoping to leave a mark. “I am looking forward to my debut season. If I get a chance to play, I will give my 100%.”

The Kolkata-based franchisee has a new Head Coach in the form of Prashant Surve. The raider who has already learned a few tricks of the trade from the veteran spoke about the training under Surve. “Our training is going strong. We have a good coach, who points out our mistakes and weaknesses so that we can work on them.”

Emotions during the auction

Any New Young Player at the auction is bound to have doubts about whether there will be a bid for them or not. It was no different for Akash Chavhan. “I was nervous during the auctions, whether some team will pick me or not. I was looking from far. I asked my brother, who had the phone in his hand, to inform me if someone would make a bid for me or not. It was also heartening to see the positive comments from my fans, “revealed Akash.

Watch the full Interview here:

Playing with Fazel and Maninder

The season 7 champions finished seventh on the table, with 55 points (9 wins in 22 games). However, they have taken the right step this time, buying experienced players like Fazel Atrachali and Nitesh Kumar, apart from using the Final Bid Match (FBM) Card for Maninder Singh.

Fazel is the most prolific defender in the league’s history, while Maninder sits second in the list of most raid points. Rubbing shoulders with players of such caliber and experience is surely going to cause Akash Chavhan’s game, to improve by leaps and bounds.

“It feels good to know that I am now able to play with those players, whom I have seen playing on TV at home, including Fazel Atrachali and Maninder Singh. I feel so proud. I have worked hard for 10-15 years to achieve this,” said Akash speaking on the topic.

Journey till now

Akash Chavhan’s journey till now has been anything but easy. Coming from a small town like Vadodara (in Gujarat), opportunities were not abundant but the focused youngster was determined to make the best of it. “Earlier, I used to play kabaddi as a casual hobby. The sport helps in improving fitness too. I used to play the game for fun only. I never imagined that kabaddi would change my life, ” shared Akash.

“I started taking the sport seriously in 2012. For 2-3 years, I was in my village team, and I would play with the lads there. In villages, it is difficult to get opportunities to scale yourself. During my time with the village team, the main players would give me a chance after the match or when the scoreline in the match was looking decisive in favour of one team. They would motivate me and tell me to go and give my best,” he added.

The ‘Banjara Express’

The Warriorz’s recruit Akash Chavhan also revealed the secret of the title he has been awarded. “The reason for that was that I come from the Banjara Community, which is considered as a VJNT caste category. I used to play the local tournaments. When the players there started liking my game, they gave me the title ‘Banjara Express’. They give me a lot of respect.”

Every player has his preferences on the mat and speaking on the same Akash Chavhan revealed that he likes to raid when the opposition has either 7 or 3 active players. “I feel the most comfortable when all 7 opposition players are on the mat. The other scenario I like is during super tackle situations when there are 3 players present.”

Target for PKL 11

With raiders like Maninder, Nitin Kumar, Arjun Rathi, and Pranay Rane, all present in the Warriorz squad, Akash Chavhan might struggle for game time. However, he wants to look at the situation positively and hopes to make the best use of every raid he gets to make.

“My main aim for the tournament is to try my best at every opportunity I get. Whether I am sent for do-or-die raids or anything else, from my side, I want to put in my full effort” said the youngster.

“I have not kept any target in terms of the number of raid points. My wish is that the team wins the trophy this time. We are looking strong on paper, with the likes of Fazel, Maninder Singh, Mayur Kadam, Aditya, Nitin Kumar, and Pranay Rane all present in our ranks. I am confident that we can qualify for the playoffs this time,” he added.

Message for fans

In the end, Akash Chavhan thanked his fans for their support with a heartfelt message and requested them to continue sending in their good wishes as he looks to make his debut in the Pro Kabaddi League.

“All my fans are praying that I am included in the starting 7. I hope that comes true. I request you all to continue giving me blessings. I will give my 100% for you all, myself, and the team.”

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