"It's time for the next generation of players"- Rahul Chaudhari announces retirement from Pro Kabaddi League
Rahul Chaudhari announced his retirement from the Pro Kabaddi League on Saturday. The league's first poster boy made the heartbreaking announcement via an Instagram post.
Pro Kabaddi 2024 Auction happened earlier this week in Mumbai. Chaudhari was a part of the Category D raiders, but none of the teams signed him. Before the auction, Rahul clarified that this season would be his last, irrespective of how he performed.
Unfortunately for Rahul's fans, the star raider will not be in action during the upcoming season. Interestingly, Rahul wrote in his retirement post that he was not a part of the auction and that he decided to take a step back to pave the way for youngsters.
"As many of you know, I was not a part of the auction for Season 11 of Pro Kabaddi League, and I want to take this moment to address the questions and concerns I've been receiving. After 10 incredible seasons, I've decided to step back from the league to pave the way for new talent," Rahul wrote.
"It's time for the next generation of players to emerge, prove themselves, and carry forward the legacy of this sport we all love so much," he added.
Rahul Chaudhari was the best raider of PKL in season four. He finished second on the leaderboard in the first two seasons as well. In season nine, Rahul won the PKL championship with the Jaipur Pink Panthers.
Rahul Chaudhari confirms he is available to play for India and Uttar Pradesh teams
While Rahul Chaudhari announced his retirement from the Pro Kabaddi League, the star raider wrote in the second part of his post that he is open to playing in other domestic and international tournaments.
"While my journey in the Pro Kabaddi League might be paused, my commitment to representing our country and my beloved Uttar Pradesh remains as strong as ever. I will continue to play in upcoming tournaments, striving to make all of you proud on the international stage," Rahul added.
Rahul concluded that he has made this tough decision, keeping the future of the league in mind. He expressed his gratitude to the fans for all their support.