Pawan Sehrawat appointed vice-captain of Indian men's kabaddi team for Asian Games 2026

Kabaddi action at the Asian Games will get underway on September 21.

The Asian Games 2026 is going to be the biggest multi-sport event this year, involving all the best players and athletes from Asian nations. The kabaddi event at the Asiad will be one of the most talked-about events in India.

Historically, India have always done well in kabaddi, and it is the one sport where fans are expecting a sure-shot gold medal. However, it won’t be easy, with other rivals emerging in the sport, including Iran, Chinese Taipei, South Korea and others.

Indian team won the gold medal at the Asian Games 2022 after defeating Iran in the final by 33-29. It was an intense match; however, one smart play by captain Pawan Sehrawat, who remembered the rules of the game, won the match for India, even though it was considered controversial at the time. The Pawan Sehrawat-led Indian team took revenge for the loss in Jakarta 2018 against Iran.

However, this time around, the Indian selectors didn’t announce Pawan as captain of the team and announced Sunil Kumar to lead the team in Japan for the 2026 Asian Games.

Pawan Sehrawat named vice-captain as Sunil Kumar will lead India at Asian Games 2026

Even though Pawan retained his name in the Indian squad, he wasn’t made the captain of the team, and the selection committee announced Sunil Kumar to lead the team. This announcement might come as a shock, but ever since the 2022 Asian Games, Pawan’s form has dipped, and he hasn’t been performing at his best in the Pro Kabaddi League.

Also Read: Sunil Kumar gives big statement on Iran men’s kabaddi team just before Asian Games 2026

In this period, Sunil Kumar emerged as one of the best captains and became the most successful captain in PKL history in terms of matches won. Pawan, on the other hand, suffered several injuries and also remained in controversy with the Tamil Thalaivas management. However, he performed well in the Senior Nationals and retained his place in the Indian team for the Asian Games after impressing the selectors in the Indian coaching camp.

Now, Pawan has been given the role of vice-captain. Even though he won’t be at the helm, he is still a senior member of the team and someone who can share his opinions and tips with the youngsters when needed. His intelligence and critical thinking during matches will help Sunil and the team.

More than that, the fans will expect Pawan to perform at his best as a raider since he’s not the captain anymore. We might see the free-flowing nature of gameplay from hi-flyer Pawan Sehrawat.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Kabaddi on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.