Pro Kabaddi 2024 Auction: 3 teams which should target Maninder Singh
Maninder Singh is one of the biggest names entering the Pro Kabaddi 2024 auction. The former Bengal Warriors captain has made a name for himself with his solid performances in the raiding department.
One of the main reasons behind Singh's success is his consistency. He made his debut in Pro Kabaddi League's inaugural season. While most players who participated in Season 1 have retired, Singh is still going strong, troubling the opposition defenders with his multi-point raids.
Maninder Singh stands second on the all-time list of players with the most raid points. He has earned 1,428 raid points, most of which have come for the Bengal Warriors. Since Singh has been associated with the Warriors for so long, it came as a surprise for many fans when the Kolkata-based franchise did not retain him.
Bengal Warriors have retained Nitin Dhankar, Vishwas Gowda, Maharudra Garje, and Sushil Kambreaker in their raiding unit for the Pro Kabaddi 2024 auction. With ₹3.62 crore available in the auction purse, the Warriors can consider re-signing Maninder at the auction.
On that note, here's a list of three teams that may target Maninder for PKL 2024/25.
#1 Bengal Warriors may use FBM card to re-sign Maninder Singh
Maninder Singh has represented Bengal Warriors every season since he returned to the Pro Kabaddi League in 2017. He has proven himself as a multi-point raid specialist who played a huge role in the team's only championship triumph in 2019.
Although the Bengal Warriors have not been consistent in the last few Pro Kabaddi League seasons, Maninder performed like a lone warrior for them in many matches.
It should not come as a surprise if the Bengal-based franchise re-sign their most consistent Warrior by using the Final Bid Match option.
#2 Bengaluru Bulls
Bengaluru Bulls have had a history of unearthing new raiding talent in the Pro Kabaddi League. The likes of Pawan Sehrawat and Bharat Hooda owe their PKL success to the Bulls franchise.
However, the Bulls have not won the Pro Kabaddi League since 2018. They did not make it to the playoffs in the last season. Perhaps, coach Randhir Singh Sehrawat should change his strategy and sign an established raider to carry his team's attack department.
Someone like Maninder who has produced extraordinary performances in his PKL career can be a solid addition to the team. The combination of raider Maninder and coach Randhir can work wonders for the Bulls.
#3 U Mumba
Another former Pro Kabaddi League-winning franchise to feature on the list is U Mumba. The Mumbai-based franchise have been quite inconsistent over the last few seasons. The team management has tried different strategies, but nothing has worked.
Perhaps, U Mumba should sign a big name in their raid attack and bring fresh energy to the franchise. They already have Amir Mohammad Zafardanesh in their squad. If the Season 2 champions manage to sign Maninder Singh, they can have the strongest raiding pair in Pro Kabaddi Season 11.