The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 11 auctions, held on August 15-16, 2024, have underscored a significant trend: the rising prominence of players from the Yuva Kabaddi Series. This season, a total of 88 players who have played in the Yuva Kabaddi Series will be competing in the PKL, marking a substantial increase from the 66 players in Season 10.
YKS Players' in PKL Season 11 Summary:
Auction Acquisitions: 29 players from the Yuva Kabaddi Series were drafted into PKL teams through the auction.
NYP Signings: Outside the auction, 24 new young players (NYPs) from the Yuva Kabaddi Series were signed by PKL teams.
Retained Players: Additionally, 35 players from the Yuva Kabaddi Series who were already part of PKL teams were retained.
This brings the total number of players from the Yuva Kabaddi Series in PKL Season 11 to 88, showcasing a notable leap in numbers and reinforcing the series' role as a critical talent pool for professional kabaddi.
Financial Highlights:
Auction Earnings: 29 Players from the Yuva Kabaddi Series were signed for a total of ₹4.84 crore from the auction.
NYP Salaries: 24 NYP players from the Yuva Kabaddi Series will earn ₹2.55 crore, with an average salary of ₹10.6 lakh per player.
Retained Player Earnings: The 35 retained players from the Yuva Kabaddi Series will earn ₹5.86 crore.
The combined earnings of ₹13 crore 26 lakh for the 88 Yuva Kabaddi Series players represent a significant portion of PKL teams’ budgets—comparable to nearly three full team purses of ₹5 crore each.
Top Yuva Kabaddi Series Picks from the Auction:
Krishan Dhull: Telugu Titans secured him for ₹70 lakh.
Jai Bhagwan: Bengaluru Bulls acquired him for ₹63 lakh.
Arjun Rathee: Bengal Warriors picked him for ₹41 lakh. He stands out as the most expensive player from the D Category and the top raider in Yuva Kabaddi Series history with 593 raid points.
Mohit Khaler: Puneri Paltan signed him for ₹20 lakh.
Stuwart Singh: U Mumba acquired him for ₹14.2 lakh.
Noteworthy NYPs:
Lokesh Ghosiliya: The top defender in Yuva Kabaddi Series history with 406 tackle points and a 50% success rate, now signed by U Mumba.
Gangaram: The premier all-rounder with 263 raid points and 120 tackle points, signed by UP Yodhas. He is the only player in Yuva Kabaddi Series history to achieve 250+ raid points and 100+ tackle points, known as Jwala Ram in the Series.
Ajit Chavan: The leading raider from KMP Yuva Kabaddi Series 2023 with 239 raid points, now with U Mumba.
Yuva Kabaddi Series as a Launchpad:
The surge in the number of Yuva Kabaddi Series players making their mark in PKL Season 11—reflected in both their numbers and the substantial earnings they have secured—demonstrates the growing influence of long form, year round tournaments where players get the platform to showcase their talents which gets noticed.
