PKL 12: Top five most shocking retentions ahead of auction

There were some surprising player retentions ahead of the PKL 12 auction.

Pro Kabaddi League season 12 auction (PKL 12) will be held on May 31 and June 1, and the excitement for it is increasing by the minute. All the participating teams are busy strategising for the new season and planning their recruitment strategy, with 500+ players set to go under the hammer. Significant changes are expected from the auction, as teams have taken bold calls before the new season begins.

While the major focus is on the released players like Pawan Sehrawat, Pardeep Narwal, Mohammadreza Shadloui, and more, one cannot overlook the retained players, who could play a major role in how a PKL outfit approaches the auctions.

Also Read: PKL 12: Top five most shocking releases ahead of auction

The recruitment strategy of some PKL teams seems surprising after looking at the list of their retained and released players. A few retained players by the PKL teams have also surprised fans. Putting the focus on the retained players ahead of the auction, here are the top five most shocking retentions.

Vishwas S – Bengal Warriorz

Bengal Warriorz had a season to forget last time around. They finished in 10th place, winning only five matches out of 22 in the league stage. The team did not perform well overall and there were no positive aspects. It was expected that the team would overhaul their entire squad and form a more cohesive unit.

However, contrary to popular belief, the side decided to retain a few players, including Vishwas S, in the Elite Retained Players (ERP) category. He scored 52 points in 12 matches last season and struggled to find rhythm. The side showed incredible faith in his potential and retained him for another season.

Mohit – Dabang Delhi

Dabang Delhi finished as semi-finalists in the 11th edition of the Pro Kabaddi League after creating an unbeaten record in 15 matches during the campaign. The team looked like a balanced unit with strong representation in every department. All it needed was a few changes, but the side has decided to initiate a complete squad overhaul.

They have released Ashu Malik, who carried the team single-handedly, and Naveen Kumar, their skipper, who played a big role in the only PKL triumph yet. Instead, Dabang Delhi has decided to retain Mohit as the Existing New Young Players (NYP), a raider who secured only 26 points in 15 matches last term. 

Amir Mohammad Zafardanesh – U Mumba

U Mumba retained Amir Mohammad Zafardanesh as the Elite Retained Player (ERP) ahead of the 12th season of the PKL. The last season was not as good as expected, as the team was eliminated in the eliminator round itself.

While the fans expected some key figures to be retained, Amir Mohammad Zafardanesh was not high on that list. The all-rounder had a mediocre season, ending with 88 points in 21 fixtures. For reference, he had scored 148 points in 20 outings in his debut season, thereby regressing significantly but still getting retained. 

Surender Gill – UP Yoddhas

Surender Gill blew hot and cold for UP Yoddhas in the 11th edition of the Pro Kabaddi League. The team was defensively strong, but their raiding department struggled in key moments. The ideal step would have been to go into the auction looking for established raiders to reinforce that area of the squad.

However, the UP Yoddhas decided to retain Surender Gill for the 12th season of the PKL. His performance in the previous season was average at best, where he amassed 47 points in 11 matches.

Rakesh – Gujarat Giants

The team had high expectations from Rakesh in season 11. However, his performances for the Gujarat Giants were hardly memorable as he underdelivered.

Despite scoring only 90 points, his lowest points tally in a PKL season, the outfit decided to retain him. Fans will hope that Rakesh’s fifth season with the Gujarat Giants brings positive results for both sides.

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