The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 12 auction, conducted on May 31 and June 1, 2025, in Mumbai, brought high-energy drama and strategic bidding, with over 500 players going under the hammer. The auction saw a mix of seasoned stars, rising talents from the Khelo India University Games 2024, and international players, making it one of the most intense auctions in PKL history.
One of the biggest talking points this season is Pardeep Narwal, often dubbed the “Dubki King”, who went unsold on Day 1 — a surprising development that has sparked debates across the kabaddi world.
🎯 PKL Auction 2025: Auction Format and Player Categorization
The player pool was divided into four categories based on their base prices and playing roles (raider, all-rounder, defender):
| Category | Base Price (INR) |
| Category A | ₹30 lakh |
| Category B | ₹20 lakh |
| Category C | ₹13 lakh |
| Category D | ₹9 lakh |
All players were also grouped by their playing skills — raiders, defenders, and all-rounders.
🟢 Highlights from Day 1 of PKL Auction 2025: Big Buys and Team Strategies
Some teams chose to go all-in on key players while others focused on rebuilding with youthful names. The Telugu Titansand Dabang Delhi made aggressive bids, while Patna Pirates, UP Yoddhas, and Bengal Warriorz made smart use of the FBM (Final Bid Match) cards.
🔥 Top 10 Most Expensive Buys
| Player | Team | Price (INR) | Type |
| Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh | Gujarat Giants | ₹2.23 Cr | Defender |
| Devank | Bengal Warriorz | ₹2.205 Cr | Raider |
| Ashu Malik | Dabang Delhi | ₹1.90 Cr | Raider (FBM) |
| Arjun Deshwal | Tamil Thalaivas | ₹1.405 Cr | Raider |
| Ankit Jaglan | Patna Pirates | ₹1.573 Cr | All-rounder (FBM) |
| Yogesh | Bengaluru Bulls | ₹1.125 Cr | Raider |
| Guman Singh | UP Yoddhas | ₹1.0725 Cr | Raider |
| Sachin Tanwar | Puneri Paltan | ₹1.0575 Cr | Raider |
| Nitin Kumar Dhankhar | Jaipur Pink Panthers | ₹1.0025 Cr | Raider |
| Naveen Kumar | Haryana Steelers | ₹1.20 Cr | Raider |
✅ Complete List of Sold Players
Here’s a breakdown of notable players and their auction results:
⭐ Big Names and Indian Stars
| Player Name | Team | Price (INR) | FBM Used? |
| Pawan Sehrawat | Tamil Thalaivas | ₹59.5 L | No |
| Vijay Malik | Telugu Titans | ₹51.5 L | Yes (1 Season) |
| Deepak Singh | Patna Pirates | ₹86 L | Yes (2 Seasons) |
| Maninder Singh | Patna Pirates | ₹20 L | No |
| Nitin Rawal | Jaipur Pink Panthers | ₹50 L | No |
| Manjeet Dahiya | Jaipur Pink Panthers | ₹40 L | No |
| Rahul | Haryana Steelers | ₹30 L | No |
| Surjeet Singh | Dabang Delhi | ₹20 L | No |
🌍 Foreign Player Picks
| Player Name | Country | Team | Price (INR) |
| Fazel Atrachali | Iran | Dabang Delhi | ₹30 L |
| Amir Hossein Bastami | Iran | Dabang Delhi | ₹30 L |
| Alireza Khalili | Iran | Tamil Thalaivas | ₹30.20 L |
| Jang Kun Lee | South Korea | Bengal Warriorz | ₹13 L |
| Dong Geon Lee | South Korea | UP Yoddhas | ₹13.5 L |
| Mohammad Nabibakhsh | Iran | Puneri Paltan | ₹13 L |
| Omid Khojasteh Mohammadshah | Iran | Bengal Warriorz | ₹13 L |
❌ List of Unsold Players
The auction saw some big names go unsold, most notably Pardeep Narwal, who failed to attract any bids on Day 1. Many domestic and foreign players remained unpicked across all categories.
🇮🇳 Notable Indian Unsold Players
| Name | Known For |
| Pardeep Narwal | “Dubki King” Raider |
| Rinku Narwal | Defender |
| Ran Singh | All-rounder |
| Rohit Gulia | Raider |
| Sandeep Dhull | Defender |
🌐 International Unsold Players
| Name | Country |
| Jong Hoon Choi | South Korea |
| Helvic Simuyu Wanjala | Kenya |
| Ryo Furihata | Japan |
| Krzysztof Sawicki | Poland |
| Abdullah Hussein Al-Hamadani | Iraq |
💬 Pardeep Narwal: What Happened?
Pardeep Narwal, the all-time highest point scorer in PKL history, remained unsold on Day 1 of the auction. This outcome shocked fans and experts alike.
Possible Reasons:
- Form Dip: His recent performance didn’t match his peak years.
- High Base Price: Possibly deterred budget-conscious franchises.
- Team Strategy Shift: Most franchises are rebuilding with younger talent.
- Limited Squad Slots: With increased focus on foreign players and youth picks, veterans may be overlooked.
However, hope remains for Day 2 or as a mid-season injury replacement signing.
🔄 FBM (Final Bid Match) Strategy Breakdown
Some teams effectively used their FBM cards to retain players by matching the final auction price.
| Player | Team Retained By | Final Bid (INR) | FBM Seasons |
| Ankit Jaglan | Patna Pirates | ₹1.573 Cr | 1 Season |
| Deepak Singh | Patna Pirates | ₹86 L | 2 Seasons |
| Yogesh | Bengaluru Bulls | ₹1.125 Cr | Not specified |
| Ashu Malik | Dabang Delhi | ₹1.90 Cr | 2 Seasons |
📊 Team-Wise Summary of Top Buys
| Team | Top Buy | Price (INR) |
| Gujarat Giants | Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh | ₹2.23 Cr |
| Bengal Warriorz | Devank | ₹2.205 Cr |
| Dabang Delhi | Ashu Malik | ₹1.90 Cr |
| Tamil Thalaivas | Arjun Deshwal | ₹1.405 Cr |
| Patna Pirates | Ankit Jaglan | ₹1.573 Cr |
| Bengaluru Bulls | Yogesh | ₹1.125 Cr |
| UP Yoddhas | Guman Singh | ₹1.0725 Cr |
| Puneri Paltan | Sachin Tanwar | ₹1.0575 Cr |
| Haryana Steelers | Naveen Kumar | ₹1.20 Cr |
| Jaipur Pink Panthers | Nitin Kumar Dhankhar | ₹1.0025 Cr |
🚀 Conclusion: A New Era of Kabaddi?
The PKL 2025 Auction not only highlighted the shift towards younger, agile, and tactical players but also indicated how franchises are investing in future-ready teams. With names like Pardeep Narwal going unsold and fresh faces like Devank fetching over ₹2 Cr, this year’s auction signifies a transition phase in Indian kabaddi.
FAQS PKL Auction 2025
- Q: When and where was the PKL 2025 auction held?
A: The PKL Season 12 auction was held in Mumbai on May 31 and June 1, 2025. - Q: How many players were available for bidding in the auction?
A: Over 500 players were part of the auction pool, including released players and new domestic talents. - Q: What were the base price categories for players in PKL Season 12 auction?
A: Players were divided into four categories:
- Category A: ₹30 lakh
- Category B: ₹20 lakh
- Category C: ₹13 lakh
- Category D: ₹9 lakh
- Q: Who was the most expensive player in the PKL 2025 auction?
A: Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh was the most expensive buy at ₹2.23 Crore by Gujarat Giants. - Q: Did Pardeep Narwal get picked in the PKL 2025 auction?
A: No, Pardeep Narwal went unsold on Day 1 of the auction.
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