Pro-Kabaddi League: Five most successful coaches in history

Coaches are often deemed as the CPU of a team, running the show.

Fans often say that matches are won by a particular category of player in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). Credit often goes to the defender or the raider. Fans, however, often forget to mention the processing system of the unit - the head coach. A head coach is the central processing unit in a big team. From embarking on a vision to forming the road to victory with a particular set of players; coaches always get forgotten behind the sparkle of the success. Even today, very little is known about the coaches from PKL.

Coaches select their team, make strategies with the coaching staff, compare strengths and weaknesses and armor their team to win. Being a coach has never been easy and never will be. Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) is a huge platform, where the game has touched the sky and is going higher limitlessly. In the eight seasons played so far, six teams have won the title and their coaches have had a bigger role than we can assume. Let’s have look at the most successful coaches in the history of PKL.

Most successful coaches in the history of PKL

5. Manpreet Singh

Before becoming a coach, Manpreet Singh was a recognized player in the Indian team. He has represented India in 2002, 2006 Asian Games and 2007 World Cup. Singh also captained Patna Pirates to their first title. In 2017, when new teams were added in the league, Singh became coach of Gujarat Fortunegiants. Singh does not have any trophies under his name so far as a coach but has led Gujarat Fortunegiants to the finals two rimes in a row in the 5th and 6th season. The Fortunegiants also reached the Eliminators last season. The aggressive nature of his game makes his team lethal and difficult to beat. He will be the coach of Haryana Steelers in the upcoming season of PKL.

4. Krishan Kumar Hooda

Krishan Kumar Hooda has done what no one has in the last 7 seasons. He made Dabang Delhi KC PKL champions for the first time ever. The Dronacharya Awardee has also been a successful coach for Indian National team. In the last three seasons, he has made Delhi one of the best teams in PKL. Delhi has qualified for the playoffs consecutively in the 6th, 7th and 8th season and eventually won the title under his guidance the last season. He will continue his coaching tenure for the reigning champions in the upcoming season as well.

3. B C Ramesh

B C Ramesh is a very successful coach; not only in PKL history but in Indian history as well. The Arjuna Awardee has taken up coaching after being a leading player. In PKL, Ramesh has coached Puneri Paltans, Bengaluru Bulls and Bengal Warriors. He is a two-time PKL title winning coach, one of which came as an assistant coach with Bengaluru Bulls and other as a head coach of Bengal Warriors. Both trophies came in consecutive seasons, in the sixth and seventh. 

In the upcoming season, he will be the head coach of Puneri Paltan once again. 

2. Randhir Singh

Randhir Singh is one of the best-known names in India's kabaddi circuit. He has coached the Indian team, the Indian Railways team and has done wonders for them. Randhir Singh has been the coach of Bengaluru Bulls since the commencement of the first season of PKL and will be coaching them in the ninth season of PKL as well. In these eight seasons, he has led them to the trophy once (in the sixth season) and has led the team to 72 victories. Last season, Bengaluru missed the mark and failed to make it to the end but this year, Randhir's team will be aiming for another victorious year.

1. Ram Mehar Singh

Ram Mehar Singh is the most successful coach in PKL history. He has led Patna Pirates to the title twice. Patna Pirates won another title, in the fourth season, even without Ram Mehar Singh. Although Patna had two bad seasons in between, they came back stronger in the eighth season and was the table topper. They lost to Dabang Delhi KC in a very-very close final. 

After giving Patna Pirates some wonderful seasons, Ram Mehar Singh will now be coaching Gujarat Giants in the upcoming season.

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