Young Coaches Reshape Pro Kabaddi Leagues Competitive Landscape

The 12th season of PKL saw a new wave of young coaches like Joginder Narwal and Ajay Thakur transforming strategies and team culture. With 13 tie-breakers and two golden raids, it was the league’s most competitive edition yet. Coaches now rely on video analysis, modern training, and stronger player-coach communication to enhance performance.

As the 12th season of the Pro Kabaddi League concluded in New Delhi on October 31, 2025, the tournament highlighted a new wave of young coaches driving change in Indian kabaddi. The final featured Dabang Delhi KC, coached by former captain Joginder Narwal, and Puneri Paltan, guided by Ajay Thakur, who served as assistant coach. Both former players emphasized how coaching has evolved with modern techniques and data-driven strategies.

Thakur noted that teams now rely on video analysis and detailed match planning, forcing players to constantly upgrade their skills. Narwal described the season as the most competitive yet, with 13 tie-breakers, including two golden raids. The modern generation of players, Thakur added, is more open and communicative, creating stronger bonds with younger coaches. Both coaches agreed that the sport is witnessing rapid modernization in training, fitness, and tactics.

Narwal also mentioned that coaching remains a continuous learning process, with innovation often emerging from players themselves. With improved fitness regimes, mental conditioning, and exposure to foreign recruits, the PKL is shaping India’s kabaddi talent pool, ensuring players remain in peak competitive form ahead of major international events such as the Asian Games.