PKL 11: Top 10 released players before auction

Many legends of the game have been released by the franchises.

The much-awaited PKL 11 Player Auction is set to take place in Mumbai on August 15 and 16, 2024. A new logo was also unveiled by Mashal Sports before the Pro Kabaddi League Season 11. The logo features green and saffron, which are reminiscent of the Indian tricolor, and depicts kabaddi a sport that was given to the world by this nation.

The league has become the second-most-watched league in the country with players becoming demigods. But franchises have matured a lot and they keep the team above these players. If the management doesn’t get the best from a player, then he will be released into the Auction to build a better team. PKL 11 Auction will be no different as many top players will be in action.

Let’s look at the top 10 players who have been released and who will be huge prospects going into the auction.

#1 Pawan Sehrawat

The Skipper of the Indian Kabaddi Team Pawan Sehrawat was yet again released by his franchise. This time with the Telugu Titans who spent more than half of their purse to get his services at 2.6cr. Pawan with 217 points did well for the Titans but the fortunes of the franchise remained the same as Telugu Titans finished at the bottom of the table. In the last two Auctions, it was the 28-year-old who came out as the most expensive player. The PKL 11 Auction could be no different.

#2 Fazel Atrachali

Probably the most successful overseas player in the history of the league, Fazel Atrachali has been released by Gujarat Giants ahead of the season 11 auction. His reunion with the Gujarat franchise last year, with whom he made it to consecutive finals in seasons five and six was one of the talking points. Coach Ram Mehar Singh raised a few eyebrows on the list of released players. But he will be a hot property in the auction.

#3 Maninder Singh

Maninder Singh has been one of the very few players to be playing in the league since its inception. Having won the inaugural edition with Jaipur, he was injured and out for the next three seasons. He joined forces with Bengal Warriors in the fifth season and their collaboration reached its peak when they lifted the trophy in season seven. While he might be released by the franchise, it won’t be a surprise if they buy back him like they have done it earlier.

#4 Mohammadreza Shadloui

Over the past three seasons, Mohammadreza Chiyaneh has been a major force in the Pro Kabaddi League. The Iranian has been shown to be one of the best defenders in PKL history, and he has been rock solid in the left corner. He was named the Best Defender award twice in three seasons. It is a surprise to see him being released by Pune. He was the most expensive overseas player with 2.35cr last year and the heavy price could be the reason why the Paltan released him.

#5 Pardeep Narwal

One of the first superstars of the game who grew beyond the popularity of the game is Pardeep Narwal. His years with Patna Pirates have not been matched by anyone. He joined hands with UP Yoddhas and coach Jasveer Singh. But the last season didn’t turn out to be a memorable one as the raider could muster up only 122 points, his lowest ever with the franchise. At the fag end of the last season, he was benched which gave indications that he might be released and the Yoddhas have done it.

#6 Ajinkya Pawar

The resurgence of Tamil Thalaivas started with Ajinkya Pawar pulling out heist in Do or Die raids. He became a Do-or-Die specialist raider with the franchise and delivered more often than not under Ashan Kumar’s coach. With new support at the helm of affairs, the management has decided to release him to increase their purse for the franchise. Thalaivas will be targeting a secondary raider and Ajinkya could very well come back to the team.

#7 Sunil Kumar

Known for his captaincy, Sunil Kumar rose up the ranks to build a successful franchise when the Gujarat team entered the league in season five. It was one of the primary reasons he was recruited by Jaipur Pink Panthers for season nine and he delivered their second PKL trophy. Last year, Sunil struggled with consistency and was released by the franchise. For franchises with a young squad, Sunil could fit in as a skipper and a quality cover defender.

#8 Sachin Tanwar

Another man who played a crucial role in building the Gujarat team during its initial years is Sachin Tanwar. He was picked by Patna Pirates as a replacement for Pardeep Narwal. The tall-lanky raider delivered in all three years with 181, 179, and 184 points in the three seasons with the three-time PKL champions. It will be interesting to see who grabs the talented raider during Auctions later this month.

#9 Mohammad Nabibhaksh

After the Indians, it is the Iranians that have dominated the sport of Kabaddi in the last decade. Even in the Pro Kabaddi league, the Iranians have made a significant mark with the franchise they have represented. He helped the Bengal Warriors win their maiden title. He along with Fazel were picked by the Giants last season but surprisingly both have been released. Teams looking for all-rounders would like to execute an ankle hold and get him into their team.

#10 Ajith Kumar V

One of the finest young players who has grown surreptitiously in the last five years is Ajith Kumar. After becoming a home favorite with Tamil Thalaivas, he moved to U Mumba and made valuable contributions. He then moved to Jaipur and made telling contributions in the last two seasons. He spent most time on the court and would quickly get points to bring back their primary from the bench. Pink Panthers might recall the services of Ajith come the auction on August 15 and 16.

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