“A bit overpriced” - Fans react as U Mumba buys Sunil Kumar for Rs. 1.015 crore in Pro Kabaddi 2024 auction
The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season 11 auctions kicked off on Thursday, August 15, and U Mumba splashed the cash on day one as they picked up defender Sunil Kumar for a sum of Rs. 1.015 crore.
Despite a base price of just Rs. 30 lakh, a bidding war between U Mumba and Bengaluru Bulls drove the price over the one crore mark for Sunil, who will now represent the Mumbai-based franchise in the 2024 season of the PKL.
Fans took to social media to express their surprise at the high price of Sunil Kumar, with the U Mumba squad still requiring a quality strike raider for the upcoming season.
“Twas a bit overpriced, don't you think?? Still need a strike raider,” one fan posted on X.
After U Mumba splashed the cash on Sunil, some fans were optimistic that the team could still purchase a strike raider in the auction, with one fan posting:
“Super buy!! Badly needed cover defenders. Now a strike raider and we are all set!! Sachin or Manjeet!!”
However, not all fans were optimistic about the purchasing power of U Mumba, with one fan writing:
“Now going for a star raider is almost impossible i'm getting the shadow of last season.”
However, the Jaipur Pink Panthers captain is sure to bring a host of leadership qualities to the U Mumba squad, and fans were quick to point him out as captaincy material for his new team.
“Good buy. And captaincy material too !!” one fan wrote.
“Big player. Mainly super captain. captaincy is very important in taking decisions in such short time,” another post read.
Another commented, “I think Sunil should [be] good for captaincy.”
Can Sunil Kumar take U Mumba to the top in PKL season 11?
Despite having a strong squad, the U Mumba team disappointed their fans in the PKL season 10 as they finished in the 10th position with only 45 points. One of the reasons for their inability to win games was a poor defense, with a tackle success rate of just 35%.
Meanwhile, Sunil Kumar, who usually plays as a right defender, had a 54% tackle strike rate last season, which will surely be a massive upgrade for the U Mumba backline. The Haryana-based defender is also a capable captain, leading the Jaipur Pink Panthers to the PKL title in season 9.
As Sunil Kumar becomes a ‘Mumboy’ now, he will look to recreate his previous success at the PKL with his new team when season 11 gets underway.