From village dust to PKL dazzle: The Yogesh Dahiya story
In the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), raiders usually hog the headlines. But during the frenzy of the PKL 12 auction, it was a right-corner defender who stole the show. Bengaluru Bulls signed Yogesh Dahiya for a record-breaking ₹1.125 crore, briefly making him the most expensive Indian defender in the league’s history. Ankit Jaglan later went for ₹1.573 crore.
After a tense three-way bidding war, the final gavel drop sent Yogesh’s family into raucous celebration — the kind where disbelief and pride collide. “My family was very happy. They were so happy that their child had become so valuable,” Yogesh told Sportstar.
Known as a “silent killer”, Yogesh’s rise has been built not on flamboyance but on quiet, calculated precision. His defensive creed is straightforward. “You have to play with patience. Don’t be too aggressive; wait for the right moment to pounce. Play for your team, not for yourself. When my team needs me to tackle, I tackle,” he explains.
Hailing from Pahladpur in Haryana, Yogesh’s journey from village life to the PKL stage was never mapped out. It began in 2018. “My school seniors used to play in the village. I got interested in kabaddi after watching them. I was never really interested in studies, so it was a good way to get out of doing schoolwork, and I genuinely enjoyed it,” he admits with a laugh.
Measured strike: Dahiya’s rise rests not on spectacle but precision — the “silent killer” who strikes without fuss.
| Photo Credit:
PKL MEDIA
Measured strike: Dahiya’s rise rests not on spectacle but precision — the “silent killer” who strikes without fuss.
| Photo Credit:
PKL MEDIA
At first, his family saw little point in a boy chasing a sport no one in the household had played. But as his performances improved, their scepticism gave way to full support, matching the steady rise of his career. His first real push came from his cousin Rohit. “He motivated me to start playing seriously. He constantly guided me, offered advice regularly, and worked incredibly hard with me during the COVID period.” That mentorship became the bedrock of Yogesh’s game.
Yogesh in PKL
Matches Played — 45
Total Tackle Points — 149
Total Tackle — 242
Tackle Success Rate — 55%
No. Of Super Tackles — 16
High 5s — 10
Average Successful Tackles/Match — 2.95
Total Raid Points — 5
Individual Award — Emerging Player of the Season in PKL 10
Soon he joined a nearby academy in Ganaur, sharpened his skills, and broke into Haryana’s squad for the Junior Nationals in 2023. There, coach Anup Kumar spotted him and picked him for the India team at the Junior World Cup.
“It was like a dream come true. I couldn’t believe it. I always dreamed of wearing the India jersey,” Yogesh recalls. In a tense final, India overcame Iran to win the trophy in its first appearance.
“The entire campaign felt like a dream. I had to pinch myself after the final. I gave my best performance of the tournament in the final when the team was under pressure. That time, I thought I was ready to play against the big boys.”
Days later, then Dabang Delhi coach Rambir Singh Khokhar called to sign him as a New Young Player (NYP) ahead of PKL 10.
“When I got the call and coach sir introduced himself, I was excited. Without even wasting a second, I told him that I’m in,” says Yogesh with a playful smile. But the dream start quickly hit a snag. Overwhelmed by the crowd, lights, cameras and the constant scrutiny, anxiety blunted his execution. “In PKL, there is a lot of crowd, noise, bright lights, and cameras; they follow you everywhere. I got a bit overwhelmed. My preparation was good, but I lacked execution. But after that match, I never looked back.” It took six matches before his real game surfaced.
Two seasons on, Yogesh has become one of the league’s most ruthless and tactically sharp defenders. With 149 tackle points from 45 matches and a 55 per cent success rate, he stands among the elite. Tall, aware, and versatile, he blends technical skill with raw athleticism. It is telling that seasoned coach B.C. Ramesh has chosen him as a cornerstone of the Bulls’ defence. Despite the price tag, Yogesh stays unfazed. He embraces the responsibility and relishes Ramesh’s distinctive approach. “Corner defenders are the pillars of the team. Ramesh sir plays a specific brand of kabaddi, which is very enjoyable. It is built on a lot of trust among the teammates, and I feel ready,” he says.
After two successful seasons in Delhi, Yogesh now aims to anchor Bengaluru’s defence and bring back glory to the ‘Garden city’.
Published on Aug 28, 2025