In one of the most surprising developments at the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 12 auction, legendary raider Pardeep Narwal went unsold.
The ‘Dubki King’, once the face of the league and the highest point-scorer in PKL history, found no takers as teams looked to invest in younger and more in-form raiders. The moment stunned fans and analysts alike, marking a dramatic shift in the league’s landscape in the year 2025.
Several teams, including Patna Pirates and UP Yoddhas; his former franchises were expected to show interest, but none entered a bid when Narwal’s name came up. With the auction’s focus shifting toward emerging talents and players who showed strong recent form, Narwal’s lack of impactful performances in the last two seasons may have played a role in his snub. Despite his pedigree, teams seemed hesitant to use a chunk of their salary purse on a veteran with declining numbers.
Brief overview of Pardeep Narwal’s PKL career till now
Pardeep Narwal’s legacy in the PKL is unmatched. Bursting onto the scene with Patna Pirates, he played a pivotal role in their three consecutive title wins from Season 3 to 5. Known for his signature ‘dubki’ move, Narwal redefined modern raiding in kabaddi and remains the all-time top scorer in league history with over 1500 raid points. His INR 1.65 crore move to UP Yoddhas in 2021 had once made him the most expensive player in PKL.
Despite the auction setback, Narwal’s contribution to the sport remains undeniable. Whether this marks the end of his PKL journey or just a temporary pause is yet to be seen. Many fans are still hopeful he could return mid-season as an injury replacement or in future editions. For now, however, the kabaddi world will have to adjust to a season without one of its most iconic stars on the mat.