‘Guru’ Manpreet appreciates former ‘shishya’ Sunil Kumar’s tackle celebration in Mumba vs Steelers PKL 2024 match
In a memorable moment during the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2024, a heartfelt gesture from Haryana Steelers' head coach Manpreet Singh toward U Mumba captain Sunil Kumar resonated with fans and players alike.
The bond between Manpreet, often referred to as the ‘Guru,’ and Sunil, his former ‘Shishya’, became the highlight of the night as Sunil passionately celebrated what he thought was a crucial tackle against Haryana Steelers, a team now coached by his former mentor.
The moment took place during a tense phase in the U Mumba vs. Haryana Steelers match on November 11 where Sunil Kumar, leading U Mumba, performed a powerful tackle that he believed would result in a Super Tackle on Haryana’s showstopper, Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh.
The tackle, if valid, would have earned crucial points for U Mumba and turned the momentum in their favor. But Sunil’s enthusiastic celebration was short-livedas the referee ruled Shadloui safe, stating that Parvesh Bhainswal, who assisted in the tackle, had already stepped out of bounds. This pivotal ruling allowed the Haryana Steelers to mount a comeback, ultimately defeating U Mumba 48-39.
Despite the ruling, Sunil’s unfiltered passion in the tackle celebration captured fans’ attention and earned a warm response from his former coach, Manpreet Singh.
The PKL’s official Instagram account shared the image of Sunil’s celebration on social media, and Manpreet responded with “Sunil 🔥❤️.”
The Guru-Shishya journey of Manpreet Singh and Sunil Kumar in the Pro Kabaddi League
The relationship between Manpreet and Sunil Kumar dates back to PKL Season 5 when Sunil first came to the limelight as a defender under Manpreet’s guidance at Gujarat Giants.
Together, they were a tough force, with Manpreet’s coaching and Sunil’s rising defensive power leading the Giants to back-to-back runner-up finishes in Seasons 5 and 6. During this time, Sunil developed into a strong right-cover defender, frequently leading his team’s tackle charts and forming a feared defensive duo with Parvesh Bhainswal.
Under Manpreet’s mentorship, Sunil achieved 57 tackle points in Season 5 and further improved with 76 tackle points in Season 6. The two worked together for four seasons until Season 8, with Sunil amassing a total of 217 tackle points with Gujarat Giants.