'GOAT' Pardeep Narwal announces retirement after going unsold in PKL 12 auction
Pardeep Narwal, shockingly, saw no bids at the PKL 12 auction across two days.
In what felt like the closing of a golden chapter in Pro Kabaddi League history, Pardeep Narwal, fondly called the ‘Dubki King’, has announced his retirement from the sport. The emotional news came just a day after the PKL 12 auction concluded in Mumbai, where the legendary raider went shockingly unsold.
Pardeep Narwal revealed his decision during a live session with sports broadcaster Sunil Taneja, leaving fans across the country heartbroken. Despite the heartbreak, Pardeep assured his supporters that he won’t be leaving the sport entirely and will remain connected to kabaddi, likely in a coaching role.
Narwal, widely regarded as the greatest raider the PKL has ever seen, entered the PKL 12 auction at a base price of ₹20 lakhs but found no takers across both days. His recent form dip may have contributed to this outcome, but few expected that not a single team would bid for a player who once carried an entire franchise on his shoulders.
Also Read: PKL 12 Auction: Pardeep Narwal goes unsold yet again; ‘GOAT’ to miss upcoming season
Pardeep Narwal: A PKL Legacy Like No Other
Pardeep Narwal’s PKL journey began quietly with Bengaluru Bulls in Season 2, but it was with Patna Pirates that his career truly took flight. In Season 3, he became the face of the franchise, leading them to their maiden PKL title. What followed was sheer dominance—three straight championships and a staggering 369 raid points in Season 5, a record that still stands tall.
Nicknamed ‘Record Breaker’, Pardeep redefined modern kabaddi with his fearless raids and iconic ‘dubkis’. He breached the 300-point mark twice, proving his consistency and class. After a successful spell with Patna, he joined UP Yoddhas and continued to deliver strong performances, including 220 raid points in Season 9.
Unfortunately, the magic began to fade over the past two seasons. His return to the Bengaluru Bulls in Season 11 saw him earn only 111 raid points in 20 games. Still, his overall tally of 1810 raid points, 82 Super Raids, and 88 Super 10s from 190 matches remains unmatched.
As the PKL moves forward without him on the mat, Pardeep Narwal leaves behind not just records, but memories that shaped the league’s very identity.
For more updates, follow Khel Now Kabaddi on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
A sports journalist for over 4 years, Triyasha has been covering Indian Football and Kanbaddi meticulously, She specialises in in-depth knowledge of the game, the players and the footballing infrastructure and heritage in India.