New Delhi:Β Pro Kabaddi League Season 8 champions Dabang Delhi K.C. will look to lift the trophy this season after crashing out in the semi-finals last season. They will bounce back stronger as they have been consistent in recent years, making it to the Playoffs in the past six seasons.
Under the leadership of Joginder Narwal and with a combination of experienced and young talent to maintain hold on the points, just like last season. With 13 wins in 22 games, they were second in the standings with 81 points before they lost to Patna Pirates in the semis.
As the season kicks off in just two days, letβs take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of Dabang Delhi K.C.
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β Dabang Delhi KC (@DabangDelhiKC) August 25, 2025
Dabang Delhi Strengths
After being halted by injuries last season, this year their quality lies in the strength of the raiders and defenders in their squad. They retained their star raider Ashu Malik, who is also their captain, by using the Final Bid Match to secure his services for two seasons for a whopping INR 1.90 crore. Dabang Delhi have also added Neeraj Narwal to their squad alongside experienced raider Ajinkya Ashok Pawar for INR 13 lakh at the auction.
In the defensive line, they have got Fazel Atrachali on board, who has been the most successful defender in Pro Kabaddi League history, at the Season 12 Player Auction for a base price of INR 30 lakh. The Iranian left corner is the first player to join the 500 tackle points club and so far has amassed 545 points in 188 games.
They even snapped seasoned right cover Surjeet Singh for INR 20 lakh. They have signed Amir Hossein Bastami and left corner Saurabh Nandal for INR 13 lakh to bolster their defensive unit.
Dabang Delhi Weaknesses
Dabang Delhiβs squad seems promising on paper, but the departure of their title winner Naveen Kumar cannot be overlooked. He was an integral part of Dabang Delhiβs squad since 2018 and went on to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in back-to-back editions in Season 7 and 8.
They have to figure out the lack of quality all-rounders this season in the squad. Amit, Ashish Kumar Sangwan, Naveen, and Arkam Shaikh are the only recognised all-rounders in their squad, and they will need to produce impactful performances.
Dabang Delhi Opportunities
With Naveen Kumar gone, this season will provide a great opportunity to players like Neeraj Narwal, Anil Gurjar, Mohit, Vijay, and Akshit to grab a spot and become part of the starting raiding unit in consecutive games. While captain Ashu Malik will lead the unit, he will need support from other raiders to clinch the coveted trophy this season.
On the defensive side, Fazel Atrachali will look to return to his best form after last seasonβs average performance with Bengal Warriors, helping Dabang Delhi aim for ultimate glory.
Dabang Delhi Threats
A lot will depend on the form of Ashu Malik, as he has been one of the leading raiders for Dabang Delhi in the league. In the last two seasons, he has scored 538 points in 46 matches.
Another suspected threat is the lack of quality all-rounders, as it may restrict them and cause them to fail in crucial situations.