The Pro Kabaddi Season 9 auction was one to remember, with the record acquisition of Pawan Sehrawat crossing the INR 2 crore mark for the first time in PKL history.
Besides the major signings, there were a couple of notable players who surprisingly found no buyers during the two-day auction held on August 5 and 6.
More than 100 players went unsold at the Pro Kabaddi player auction and here we take a look at some eminent stars from past seasons who won’t feature in PKL 9.
Sandeep Narwal - All-rounder
Haryana-born kabaddi star Sandeep Narwal was one of the most shocking snubs at the Pro Kabaddi Season 9 auction. The all-rounder, with 149 games under his belt, played his part in Dabang Delhi K.C.’s triumphant campaign in 2021, as he registered 38 tackle points and 26 raid points.
Known for his signature ‘Block’ move, Sandeep Narwal’s absence could perhaps come back to haunt Delhi as they eye a successful defence of their title in Pro Kabaddi Season 9.
Rohit Kumar - Raider
Rohit Kumar, one of the finest raiders in PKL history and a former MVP, failed to attract any bids during the auction.
Having aggregated at least 100 points between Seasons 3-7, injuries and poor form limited Rohit to only 18 points in eight games for Telugu Titans in PKL 8.
Rohit's horrendous campaign last year meant no team was willing to add him to their squad for Season 9.
Sukesh Hegde - Raider
Sukesh Hegde is another veteran raider who will miss out in PKL Season 9.
Hegde, a champion with Bengal Warriors in Season 7, was released for the upcoming season despite having a career haul of 471 raid points in 115 matches.
With Bengal Warriors finishing outside the top six last season, Sukesh Hegde was among the 19 players let go by the team as they eyed a new-look team for PKL 9. Despite being a seasoned name, no franchise seemed interested in recruiting him.
Rishank Devadiga - Raider
Mumbai-born Rishank Devadiga misses out on a Pro Kabaddi season for the first time in his career.
The raider, with 625 raid points and 47 tackle points to his name, saw a dip in form as he played just one game in PKL 8. This sent a wrong impression to franchises and they ignored him at the Pro Kabaddi Season 9 auction.
Hadi Oshtorak - Defender
One of the well-known overseas talents in Pro Kabaddi, Hadi Oshtorak is a top all-rounder who missed the cut from Category B players at the PKL 9 auctions.
The Iranian, known for his versatility on the mat, has recorded 127 tackle points in his career but only managed 18 tackle points in the previous campaign.
Oshtorak’s chances of finding a new team perhaps dwindled based on his performances in Pro Kabaddi Season 8 with his average tackle points dropping drastically.
Author: William Paul
Featured photo: Pro Kabaddi
