Sunil Kumar to Continue as U Mumba Captain in PKL Season 12; Key Players Retained

Mumbai, May 17 – U Mumba has announced that Sunil Kumar will continue to lead the franchise in the upcoming 12th edition of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), retaining nine core players including rising raider Rohit Raghav.

Sunil, a right cover defender, is the most successful captain in PKL history. His leadership will be crucial as the franchise aims to improve on its playoff finish from the previous season.

Among the standout retentions is Rohit Raghav, who transitioned from an unsold replacement to a key game-changer off the bench. His impressive performance — amassing 68 raid points and 11 tackle points — secured him a permanent role in the squad and elevated him to fan-favorite status.

Key Retentions for PKL 12​

The franchise has also retained several pivotal players ahead of the auction scheduled for May 31 to June 1 in Mumbai:

• Amirmohammad Zafardanesh, the Iranian all-rounder
• Sathish Kannan, a promising young raider
• Ajit Chouhan, the breakout performer with 185 raid points in his debut season

U Mumba has also continued with defenders Lokesh Ghosliya, Deepak Kundu, and Sunny as part of their New Young Players (NYPs) roster. Ajit Chouhan remains in this category due to his consistent growth.

Strategic Youth Promotions​

Mukilan Shanmugam, an NYP for the past two seasons, has now been promoted to a Retained Young Player (RYP), enabling the franchise to hold him for up to two more seasons post PKL 12. MukeshKannan S, a raider from Tamil Nadu’s domestic circuit, has been inducted into the retained squad, further strengthening U Mumba's youth lineup.

With a solid core and a blend of experience and emerging talent, U Mumba is positioning itself as a strong contender for the upcoming PKL season.