Who is Devank? All you need to know about Patna Pirates' latest young raiding sensation in Pro Kabaddi 2024
In the 11th edition of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), Patna Pirates raider Devank Dalal put up a performance for the ages, scoring 25 raid points in a league match against the Tamil Thalaivas to turn the tide towards his side in a thrilling encounter by 42-40.
At one point in the game, the Pirates were trailing by 11 points. However, Devank's extremely agile raiding skills single-handedly changed the course of the game and his double Super 10 gave PKL a new raiding sensation.
Hailing from Rohtak, Haryana, Devank was born on April 1, 2000. Right from his childhood, Devank displayed love towards Kabaddi. Subsequently, he went on to serve in the Indian Army. Notably, he has played several matches for the Red Army team, winning multiple accolades.
PKL debut with Jaipur Pink Panthers
Having secured a lot of titles at the state level, PKL franchise Jaipur Pink Panthers drafted him ahead of the ninth edition of the competition in the Franchisee Nominated New Young Players category.
In PKL 9, Devank played only five matches, scoring four points and making 11 raids. Despite his lackluster debut season, the then-defending champions Jaipur Pink Panthers retained Devank for the 10th season.
Ahead of the PKL Season 10 Player Auction, the Jaipur-based franchise stated they were retaining the young raider. His agility, tackling prowess, and raiding capabilities make him a valuable addition to the retained players list.
Unfortunately, in PKL 10, he played only one match before being ruled out of the season due to an injury. He was replaced by Shubham Shelke in the Panthers squad. Subsequently, after the end of the season, the franchise released Devank.
At the PKL Season 11 Player Auction in August 2024, Devank found a new franchise in Patna Pirates when he was acquired by the team at INR 20.10 Lakh. In two matches, Devank scored 31 points at 15.5 raid points per match, showcasing a 72.22 not-out percentage in the season.