PKL 2025: From substitute to Super 10 sensation, Sandeep completes redemption arc at U Mumba

Each season of the Pro Kabaddi League sees a few names rise from promise to prominence. U Mumba’s Sandeep Kumar has been one such star this year.

The young raider has quickly built an impressive body of work through Season 12, thrilling fans with his long reach, nimble feet, and rangy athleticism as U Mumba chases its first title since 2015.

Hailing from Chamtha in Bihar’s Begusarai district, Sandeep’s kabaddi journey began casually among friends. “When I was a kid, I used to play with my friends and became addicted to kabaddi. The people I used to play with all exited one by one, and finally, I was the only one left,” he said. “PKL would come on TV and I used to watch it. The people at home used to ask when I would go, so slowly, after struggling, learning, practising, and working hard, I reached till here.”

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The army had a defining influence on his early development. His first guru, Dinesh, was a retired army officer and an NIS-qualified coach from Rohtak, and Sandeep now holds the rank of havaldar while turning out for the Red Army kabaddi team.

That stint proved pivotal. The discipline, structure, and exposure he gained with army sides soon brought him into the spotlight. And it was from there that his big break arrived in 2023, at a tournament in Patna.

“There was a tournament happening in Patna, where I was playing for the home team. The Patna Pirates management and coach Narender Redhu sir had come for the tournament, and I was the best player. They called me for the camp in season 10,” he recalled.

His entry into PKL soon followed, though not without a heart-in-mouth moment at the auction.

“My name was in the auction. I was actually sleeping, and my best friend Hitesh, who plays for UP Yoddhas, called me to ask if my name was there in the PKL auction. He said my name hadn’t come up yet, but I had checked that it was on the list,” he recounted. “So, I asked him where he was watching it. As soon as I opened YouTube, my auction started, and Patna Pirates picked me.”

He made a promising start with Patna, tallying 87 raid points from 20 appearances in his maiden season. The following year was leaner, with just 43 points. Among his teammates were Devank Dalal and Ayan Lohchab – now among the league’s top five raiders – who were then rising stars.

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Playing alongside such talent proved a valuable lesson. “You have to focus on perfecting your skill. The defence in front of you is important, but if you execute your skills, you will score,” he said.

However, being in the same team as two prolific raiders meant that his opportunities were limited to the role of a third raider or substitute, restricting his chances to rack up points and that gradually affected his confidence.

But now, he says he is stronger for that experience. “Never give up,” he said when asked what his time in PKL has taught him. “In the last season, I was getting fewer raids and became a little demotivated. I was very sad inside. I used to go for the matches and our team would win, so I was happy, but I was only getting 2-3 points, and I was a little sad about that.

“But I’ve learned one thing from life, which is to never give up. I started practising again and did well in nationals, in the army team, wherever I got a chance. Then the U Mumba management gave me a chance, and now I’m doing well here.”

His move to Mumba marks his first change since joining PKL after two seasons with his home side, Pirates. The transfer excited him, especially with familiar faces like skipper Sunil Kumar and defender Parvesh Bhainswal in the team.

Sandeep’s start at U Mumba was slow. His early appearances came off the bench, starting only one of the team’s first seven matches. A mix of a minor injury and tactical choices kept him out.

That changed in the penultimate match of U Mumba’s Jaipur leg – a heartbreaking tiebreak loss against Jaipur Pink Panthers. Returning to the starting seven, he posted a 14-point haul that triggered a sparkling run of form where he scored four consecutive Super 10s across the Jaipur and Chennai legs.

He is now U Mumba’s most prolific raider, with 72 points from seven appearances.

“Making four Super 10s in a row is a great feeling. Two of them came in matches we lost, so I wasn’t too happy, but the two Super 10s I’ve made in Chennai have come in matches where the team has won, so I’m really happy about that,” he said.

This U Mumba side boasts a lively raiding unit – Ajith Chouhan, Aanil Mohan, Rohit Raghav, Satish Kannan, and Amirmohammad Zafardanesh – and Sandeep is quick to credit their camaraderie.

“Every time one of us is in the playing seven, those on the bench boost him up with support and advice about defenders,” he said. “Even if one of us is sitting out, we support the others. Our team is not one where someone stays apart because they’re not in the team, everyone supports each other to play well.”

With form and confidence on his side, his goals are clear. “Our main goal is to make the team qualify. After that, our eyes are on the trophy, because U Mumba won the trophy in Season 2, and last year I was in Patna, where we reached the final but couldn’t win. I was also not able to play because I had a fracture in my elbow and missed that. So, I want to make U Mumba play in the final and get the trophy.”

Published on Oct 08, 2025