Panchkula: In a significant development ahead of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 12 auction, star raider Naveen Kumar is set to enter the auction pool for the first time in his professional career after being released by Dabang Delhi K.C. The franchise has also parted ways with Ashu Malik and Yogesh Dahiya, ending a successful six-year association with one of the league’s most accomplished players.
The move marks the end of an era for Dabang Delhi and opens a new chapter for Naveen Kumar, who joined the franchise as a teenager and evolved into one of the biggest names in Pro Kabaddi.
End of a successful six-year journey
Naveen Kumar’s journey with Dabang Delhi has been one of the most successful player-franchise partnerships in PKL history.
Popularly known as “Naveen Express”, he leaves the team after scoring 1,102 raid points during his six-season stint.
He became the first player in league history to cross the 1,000 raid-point mark while representing a single franchise before entering the open auction market.
The milestone came during Season 10 against Bengal Warriors in Chennai, where he reached the landmark in only 90 matches, making him the fastest player to achieve the feat.
Earlier, Naveen had also become the quickest player to enter the 500-point club, reaching the milestone in just 47 matches and surpassing the previous record of 56 matches held by Maninder Singh.
His consistency and match-winning performances established him as one of the most dependable raiders in the competition.
MVP season and title-winning campaign
One of the most memorable phases of Naveen’s career came during the eighth season of Pro Kabaddi.
He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of Season 8 after delivering outstanding performances throughout the tournament.
That season ended with Dabang Delhi securing their maiden PKL title after defeating Patna Pirates 37-36 in a closely contested final.
Although Joginder Narwal captained the side during the championship-winning season, Naveen later assumed leadership responsibilities.
Dabang Delhi handed him the captaincy from Season 10 onwards, making him the face of the franchise and central figure in their future plans.
Franchise opts for rebuilding strategy
The release of Naveen Kumar, Ashu Malik and Yogesh Dahiya has given Dabang Delhi a significant financial advantage heading into the auction.
Reports suggest the franchise now possesses a purse value of ₹4.56 crore, providing flexibility to reshape the squad and rebuild its raiding unit.
The decision appears to be driven not only by sporting factors but also by long-term team planning and auction strategy.
Retaining several high-profile players could have consumed a substantial portion of the available budget, limiting options during the bidding process.
Instead, the franchise has chosen to enter the auction with greater financial freedom.
Teams likely to compete for star raider
Naveen’s availability is expected to attract attention from multiple franchises seeking a proven Indian raider.
Teams such as Bengaluru Bulls and U Mumba, which may be looking to strengthen their raiding departments, could emerge as potential contenders during the auction.
Other franchises with established raiding combinations may adopt a more cautious approach depending on bidding dynamics.
The revised Final Bid Match (FBM) rule is also expected to influence team strategies, as it allows purchasing franchises to retain players for shorter periods without long-term commitments.
At 26 years of age, Naveen enters the auction as one of the most decorated active raiders in the league and among the biggest names available in the market.
The Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 auction is scheduled to take place in Panchkula on May 31, where all eyes are expected to be on the bidding battle surrounding the former Dabang Delhi star.