Pro Kabaddi 2024: List of all Retained and Released players by U Mumba ft. Guman Singh, Amirmohammad Zafardanesh
With the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 11 set to commence soon, U Mumba have unveiled their list of retained and released players, which highlights a strategic shift as they aim to bounce back from a disappointing performance in the previous season.
Finishing 10th in the group stage of PKL 10, U Mumba's journey ended without a playoff appearance, marking a significant contrast to their earlier success when they clinched the title in Season 2. The team's performance in Season 10 was underwhelming, needing improvement in several areas.
They have retained promising young talents to build a more robust squad for PKL 2024. The franchise's retention strategy includes key players across different categories.
In the Elite Retained Players category, U Mumba have retained Amirmohammad Zafardanesh and Rinku. Amirmohammad, the Iranian all-rounder, was a standout performer in Season 10, amassing 141 raid points with an average of 7.05 raid points per game. His six Super 10s showcased his significant impact on the mat.
The Retained Young Players (RYP) category features Shivam. Additionally, U Mumba have retained several promising players in the Existing New Young Players (ENYP) category: Bittu, Gokulakannan M., Mukilan Shanmugam, and Sombir. These players represent the franchise's investment in developing young talent who can play key roles in the coming seasons.
U Mumba's release of several key players indicates a strategic overhaul aimed at rejuvenating the squad. Notable among the released players are Girish Ernak, Surinder Singh and Mahender Singh, all of whom had underwhelming performances in Season 10. Girish played only four matches, contributing just three tackle points. Surinder, despite participating in 18 matches, managed only 29 tackle points, while Mahender scored 31 tackle points in 16 games.
Additionally, Visvanath V, Ram Adhagale, Shivansh Thakur, Guman Singh, Kunal Bhati, Rohit Yadav, Sourav Parte, Jai Bhagwan, Pranay Rane, Heidarali Ekrami, Alireza Mirzaein, and Rupesh have also been released. Notably, Guman Singh, despite a strong season with 163 raid points, including nine Super 10s, has been released.
The upcoming PKL 2024 Player Auction, set for August 15 and 16, will be critical for the Mumbai-based team as they look to rebuild their squad. The franchise will have the opportunity to address gaps from the last season and add new talent to strengthen their chances for the upcoming edition.
The player pool for the auction will include over 500 players, providing them with a broad spectrum of options to enhance their squad. The focus will likely be on acquiring players who can bring both immediate impact and long-term value to the team.
U Mumba: Retained Players List
Elite Retained Players: Amirmohammad Zafardanesh, Rinku
Retained Young Players: Shivam
Existing New Young Players: Bittu, Gokulakannan M., Mukilan Shanmugam, Sombir
U Mumba: Released Players List
Released Players: Visvanath V, Ram Adhagale, Surinder Singh, Girish Ernak, Mahender Singh, Shivansh Thakur, Guman Singh, Kunal Bhati, Rohit Yadav, Sourav Parte, Jai Bhagwan, Pranay Rane, Heidarali Ekrami, Alireza Mirzaein, Rupesh