Pro Kabaddi 2024: 3 big names who have been a part of the same PKL team as player and coach ft. Ajay Thakur
Pro Kabaddi League 2024 has entered its final leg. After numerous entertaining matches in Hyderabad and Noida, the competition has reached Pune, where one of the 12 teams will lift the trophy on December 29.
None of the franchises have officially qualified for the playoffs yet, showing how closely contested this season has been. The intense competition level in Pro Kabaddi League 2024 compelled defending champions Puneri Paltan to change their coaching staff.
The Pune-based franchise decided to move BC Ramesh from the head coach's position to the advisory team after their embarrassing loss on home turf against U Mumba. Ashok Shinde replaced Ramesh as the head coach while Puneri Paltan's team owners roped in former PKL champion Ajay Thakur as their assistant coach.
Thakur had been a part of Puneri Paltan's squad as a player in Seasons 3 and 4 of the Pro Kabaddi League. On that note, here's a look at the three big names who have been involved with the same PKL franchise as a player and a coach.
Pro Kabaddi 2024: 3 big names who have been a part of the same PKL team as player and coach
#1 Ajay Thakur - Puneri Paltan and Dabang Delhi KC
The only player to have been associated with two different Pro Kabaddi League teams as a player and a coach is Ajay Thakur. As mentioned above, the legendary player has joined Puneri Paltan as an assistant coach for the PKL 11 tournament. In PKL 3 and 4, Thakur represented Pune as a player.
Apart from Puneri Paltan, Thakur has played the role of player and coach for Dabang Delhi KC. He was a member of the Delhi squad that became the champions in Season 8. In Season 10, Delhi appointed Thakur as their assistant coach. However, he resigned due to personal reasons.
#2 Joginder Narwal - Dabang Delhi KC
Another veteran Indian kabaddi player to feature on the list is Joginder Narwal. The ankle hold specialist won the Pro Kabaddi League trophy with Dabang Delhi KC in the eighth edition.
Two seasons later, Narwal joined Delhi as their assistant coach. Impressed by his coaching, the Delhi-based franchise promoted him to the head coach's role for the 11th season of the league. Narwal is currently Delhi's head coach, and the team is just a few steps away from qualifying for the playoffs.
#3 Jeeva Kumar - U Mumba
Jeeva Kumar was known for his solid tackles in the cover positions of the defense. He made a name for himself with his brilliant tackling skills in the U Mumba jersey during the first four seasons of the league.
The cover defender played his last PKL season in 2021-22, where he won the championship with Dabang Delhi KC. After retiring from the tournament, Kumar decided to try his luck in coaching. His former franchise U Mumba approached him for a unique role in season 10.
Ahead of the 10th PKL season, U Mumba announced Kumar as their 'defense' coach. It is common to see teams having a head coach and an assistant coach, but U Mumba roped in a coach specially for the defense and offered a one-season deal to Jeeva.