PKL 12 Auction: Patna Pirates sign 'Mighty' Maninder Singh for just 20 lakhs

Bengal Warriorz opted not to use the FBM for Maninder Singh.

Patna Pirates have roped in the services of veteran raider Maninder Singh for just ₹20 lakhs the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 (PKL 12) auction, which also ends his long and decorated stint with the Bengal Warriorz.

The move came after Bengal Warriorz opted not to use the Final Bid Match (FBM) card to retain the star raider, and it is surprising considering in the last auction, the East India side had matched a ₹1.15 crore bid to keep Maninder in their camp.

Maninder Singh, who has been the face of Bengal Warriorz since 2017, captained them for multiple seasons and played a key role in delivering their maiden PKL title in 2019.

But recent numbers didn’t fare well for the Hoshiarpur native. Last season, Maninder’s numbers dipped, and in 15 matches for Bengal in PKL 11, he managed only 102 total points, with a 6.66 raid points per match average, which was his lowest since his return to the league in 2017.

Maninder Singh’s PKL Career at a Glance

Maninder Singh’s kabaddi journey is one for the folklore. Well, if you don’t think so? How about a title in the first season of the Pro Kabaddi League? That is what he did. He started his journey with the Jaipur Pink Panthers in Season 1 and helped them win the title.

He then sat out for three seasons due to injury, only to return with a bang in Season 5 for Bengal, scoring 190 raid points. Over the next few years, he became one of the fastest raiders to cross 400, 500, 600, 900, and 1000 raid points in league history.

He led Bengal as captain from Season 7 and built a legacy, finishing in the top three raiders in multiple seasons. Across 10 seasons, he has played over 130 matches, scored more than 1,100 raid points, and registered dozens of Super 10s and Super Raids. His consistency, particularly between Seasons 5 and 9, made him a nightmare for defenders.

Now with Patna Pirates — a team with three titles and a rich history — Maninder will look to resurrect his form and perhaps guide a young squad with his experience. Whether he can still turn matches on his own remains to be seen, but ₹20 lakhs for a seasoned campaigner like him is a steal.

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.