Sports

PKL: Key Players Retained Ahead of Auction Include Jaideep, Aslam, and Sunil

Published

1 year ago

May 17, 2025

On Saturday, the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) revealed its list of ‘Elite Retained Players,’ ‘Retained Young Players,’ and ‘New Young Players’ for Season 12. The auction is scheduled for May 31 and June 1 in Mumbai.

While most franchises have retained their key talent, they are also focused on strengthening their teams ahead of the upcoming Player Auction for PKL Season 12.

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Key players retained include Sunil Kumar and Amirmohammad Zafardanesh (U Mumba), Jaideep Dahiya (Haryana Steelers), Surender Gill (UP Yoddhas), and the Puneri Paltan’s Aslam Inamdar and Mohit Goyat.

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A total of 83 players have been retained across three categories: 25 in the Elite Retained Players category, 23 in the Retained Young Players category, and 35 in the New Young Players category.

Over 500 players will be available at the auction, including prominent Indian names like Pawan Sehrawat, Arjun Deshwal, Ashu Malik, and PKL 11’s top raider Devank Dalal. Iranian stars Fazel Atrachali and Mohammadreza Shadloui, as well as veterans Maninder Singh and Pardeep Narwal, will also participate.

Notably, star raider Naveen Kumar will enter the auction for the first time. The PKL 8 champion has amassed 1,102 Raid Points for Dabang Delhi K.C. across six seasons, becoming the first player in league history to reach 1,000+ points with a single team before an auction.

For the auction, players will be sorted into four categories: A, B, C, and D, with additional classifications as ‘All-Rounders,’ ‘Defenders,’ and ‘Raiders.’ The base prices for each category are as follows: Category A: Rs 30 lakh, Category B: Rs 20 lakh, Category C: Rs 13 lakh, and Category D: Rs 9 lakh.

Each franchise will have a total salary purse of Rs 5 crore to build its squad.

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Sports

Suresh Raina Opposes IPL Impact Player Rule

Published

1 day ago

September 5, 2026

Namma Kudla

Mumbai: Former Chennai Super Kings player Suresh Raina has opposed the Impact Player rule in the IPL.

Raina said the rule gives batters an extra advantage and puts more pressure on bowlers. He noted that teams are now scoring 200-plus runs more frequently, with some even approaching the 300-run mark.

“Bowlers have nothing left,” Raina said, adding that the rule has made their job much harder.

Former Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma and several other players have also criticised the rule.

The Impact Player rule allows teams to replace one player during a match with a batter or bowler, depending on the situation. The rule was first tested in the 2022-23 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy before being introduced in the IPL in 2023.

Sports

Messi Announces Retirement from International Football

Published

5 days ago

September 1, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: Football legend and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 39.

Messi shared the emotional decision through a post on Instagram. He said that the decision was painful but felt that it was the right time to step away from the national team.

His retirement came after Argentina’s defeat against Spain in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Argentina lost the final 1-0 at the New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19.

Messi had led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022. Argentina defeated France in a dramatic penalty shootout in the final held in Doha, Qatar.

Messi made his international debut for Argentina in August 2005. During his remarkable international career, he played 207 matches and scored 125 goals for his country.

He also appeared in six FIFA World Cups and became one of the greatest players in the history of football.

Messi’s retirement marks the end of a glorious international career that spanned more than two decades. His decision has left football fans around the world emotional.

Entertainment

Cristiano Ronaldo Marries Longtime Partner Georgina Rodriguez

Published

3 weeks ago

August 14, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has married his longtime partner, Georgina Rodriguez, in a private ceremony.

Ronaldo reportedly tied the knot with Georgina on Tuesday, August 11. The couple surprised fans by sharing an official wedding photo on social media.

The picture shows Ronaldo and Georgina holding hands while wearing their wedding rings. The couple appeared happy as they marked the special occasion.

The wedding took place in Cascais, a picturesque coastal town near Portugal’s capital, Lisbon. The ceremony was kept extremely private, with only their five children reportedly attending the occasion.

Ronaldo and Georgina first met in Madrid in 2016. They have been together for nearly a decade.

The couple has five children: Cristiano Jr., twins Eva and Mateo, Alana Martina, and Bella Esmeralda.

Ronaldo is one of the most decorated footballers in the world. He has scored a record 146 goals for Portugal in international football and has won the prestigious Ballon d’Or award five times.

He recently represented Portugal at the FIFA World Cup, making it the sixth World Cup of his career. At club level, Ronaldo currently plays for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.

He is expected to return to action when the new domestic season begins on Saturday.