PKL 12: Three Players Dabang Delhi should target in auction

Dabang Delhi released Naveen Kumar and Ashu Malik in a surprise move ahead of PKL 12 auctions.

Dabang Delhi have thrown the biggest surprises ahead of the season 12 Auction of the Pro Kabaddi League by releasing all big players from their squad, including the likes of Naveen Kumar and Ashu Malik. It has raised eyebrows among many teams which are looking for a dominating raider to fit in their starting seven.

Dabang Delhi have released two players who have made the Auction one of the most looked into in PKL history. However, teams would also be aware that Delhi will come with the biggest purse and could easily dictate the terms of the auction. Delhi will be shopping under the watchful eyes of Joginder Narwal.

The defender has been with Dabang Delhi as a player, captain, Assistant coach and now as the Head coach. The experts and fans understand that the corner defender would have his plans in place for the auction and everyone are eager to see how it unfolds. Let’s see three possible names in Joginder’s list for PKL 12 auctions.

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3. Naveen Kumar

Naveen Kumar has been synonymous with Dabang Delhi for the last six years. He has broken numerous records to be in the hearts of the Delhi fans. But last two seasons, his fragile body has let him and the fans down as he missed a major part of the last two seasons. Despite all these, the lion is still a lion and Naveen Express is a force to reckon with in PKL.

His shiftness is one to watch out for, which has made him unstoppable, hence the name Naveen Express. The Dabangs would be targeting to bring back the Express to the Nation’s capital. While there are many quality raiders available in the Auction pool, for Joginder a Known Devil is better than an unknown Angel and Naveen will be one of his primary tasks in the Auction.

2. Ashu Malik

They say Sports don’t build character, but reveal it. Till Naveen was leading from the front, Ashu Malik was playing the secondary raider role. But, when an injury ruled Naveen out of the season, the leadership character of Ashu was revealed as he became the player that he actually is as he dominated season 10 to finish as the joint-highest point scorer with 276 points.

He continued his good run last season, scoring 263 points, the only player to score 250+ points in the last two seasons. Having seen his growth and how he has taken care of Dabang Delhi’s interests, the fans and owners would want him back. Ashu could also be their choice for captaincy. It was under Joginder’s captaincy he made his PKL debut and won the championship. It would be a nice way to pass the baton.

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1. Mohammadreza Shadloui

One man who will be in the list of every team would be Mohammadreza Shadloui. No one has had more impact than Shadloui in the last four seasons of the league. Having made it to the finals on three occasions, topping the defenders’ chart thrice and winning the league twice. With Dabang Delhi having the biggest purse, they can go all guns blazing for the all-rounder in the auction.

Shadloui has made a name for himself in the left corner position and it would be a tempting option for the coach, who himself is a left corner defender. Shadloui’s impact has been huge in every team he has been part of in PKL. While his defensive prowess is second to none, he has been contributing big time as a raider and with the aura he has built, he can bring the same energy if Delhi can rope him in.