PKL 13 Released Players List 2026: Every Team’s Exits Before the Auction
The PKL 13 released players list will decide who enters the Season 13 auction pool and which big names are suddenly available to every franchise. Each year, some of the most exciting auction stories begin with a release: a club legend let go, a star raider returning to the market, or an expensive signing who did not work out. This guide explains how releases work in Pro Kabaddi, which players are already heading back into contention because their contracts have ended, and what Season 12’s release decisions teach us about the choices ahead.
PKL 13 Released Players: Quick Status
| Detail | Current Status |
|---|---|
| Official Season 13 release list | Awaiting official announcement |
| How releases are confirmed | Any player not named on a team’s official retention list is released |
| Expected timing | Alongside the retention list, before the auction reported for October 18 to 25, 2026 |
| Where released players go | Into the Season 13 auction pool |
| Can a team bring a released player back? | Yes, through bidding or a Final Bid Match (FBM) card |
| Season 12 auction pool | 529 players went under the hammer, and 121 were sold |
What Does “Released” Mean for PKL 13 Released Players?
One of the PKL 13 released players is simply someone his franchise has chosen not to keep before the auction. In practice, the league does not usually publish a separate “released” list. Instead, it publishes the retention list, and every player from the previous season’s squads who does not appear on it is effectively released into the auction pool.
That means the PKL 13 released players picture only becomes complete on the day retentions are announced. Fans then compare each team’s Season 12 squad against its Season 13 retention list to work out exactly who has been let go. This tracker does that comparison for all 12 teams once the official list is out.
Released vs Unsold vs Replacement
These three terms often get mixed up, so it is worth separating them clearly.
| Term | Meaning | When It Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Released | A player his team chose not to retain | Before the auction |
| Unsold | A player in the auction pool who received no winning bid | During the auction |
| Replacement player | A player signed during the season to cover an injury or absence | After the auction, during the season |
A released player is not necessarily out of the league. Many of the biggest auction prices in PKL history were paid for players who had just been released by their previous franchise.
Why Good Players Become PKL 13 Released Players
Adding a name to the PKL 13 released players does not always mean the franchise thinks he is not good enough. Common reasons include:
- Purse management: keeping an expensive player reduces the money available at the auction.
- Squad balance: a team may already have enough raiders and need defenders, or the other way around.
- Price reset: a franchise may release a player hoping to buy him back at a lower price, or use its FBM card to match the final bid.
- Coaching changes: a new head coach may want a different style of player.
- Contract structure: some deals simply end, and the player returns to the pool unless the team offers a new contract.
If you want these contract terms explained simply, our guide on retained and released players in the kabaddi auction walks through the FBM rule in Hindi.
PKL 13 Released Players Whose Contracts Have Ended
Some PKL 13 released players are decided by the calendar rather than by a franchise meeting. At the Season 12 auction, the Final Bid Match card could be used for either one season or two seasons. One-season FBM deals ended after Season 12, which means those players return to the pool unless their team retains them again.
| Player | Season 12 Team | Season 12 Deal | Season 13 Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitesh Kumar (Defender) | Bengal Warriorz | FBM, one season | Contract ended; depends on Bengal’s retention decision |
| Mayur Jagannath Kadam (Defender) | Bengal Warriorz | FBM, one season | Contract ended; depends on Bengal’s retention decision |
Nitesh Kumar is one of the most experienced defenders in PKL, which makes his situation one of the most interesting to follow. If Bengal does not retain him, several franchises could compete for an experienced defender with a proven record. Bengal’s current defensive options are covered in our Bengal Warriorz squad guide.
Players Who Will Not Be Released
On the other side, two-season FBM deals carry players into Season 13 automatically, so they will not appear among the PKL 13 released players. The official Pro Kabaddi auction reports confirm that Dabang Delhi K.C. kept raider Ashu Malik for two seasons at INR 1.90 crore and Patna Pirates kept right cover Deepak Singh for two seasons at INR 86 lakh. Players in the second year of a New Young Player contract also stay with their teams automatically.
PKL 13 Released Players: Team-by-Team Tracker
This PKL 13 released players table will be filled in as soon as the official retention list confirms which players each franchise has let go.
| Team | Players Released | Biggest Name Released | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bengal Warriorz | TBA | TBA | Awaiting official list |
| Bengaluru Bulls | TBA | TBA | Awaiting official list |
| Dabang Delhi K.C. | TBA | TBA | Awaiting official list |
| Gujarat Giants | TBA | TBA | Awaiting official list |
| Haryana Steelers | TBA | TBA | Awaiting official list |
| Jaipur Pink Panthers | TBA | TBA | Awaiting official list |
| Patna Pirates | TBA | TBA | Awaiting official list |
| Puneri Paltan | TBA | TBA | Awaiting official list |
| Tamil Thalaivas | TBA | TBA | Awaiting official list |
| Telugu Titans | TBA | TBA | Awaiting official list |
| U Mumba | TBA | TBA | Awaiting official list |
| UP Yoddhas | TBA | TBA | Awaiting official list |
Decisions to Watch for Each Team
Until the official list arrives, here are the release decisions that could matter most for each franchise. These are questions to watch, not confirmed releases.
Bengal Warriorz
After finishing 12th in Season 12, Bengal could produce several PKL 13 released players and faces the biggest reset pressure in the league. The one-season FBM deals for Nitesh Kumar and Mayur Kadam have ended, and the franchise has to decide how much of its purse to commit around raider Devank Dalal, whom it signed for INR 2.205 crore.
Bengaluru Bulls
The Bulls had the best score difference in Season 12 at +97, so large-scale PKL 13 released players decisions seem less likely. The main question is whether they keep their expensive Season 12 additions, including defender Yogesh Dahiya (INR 1.125 crore), or free up purse for new attacking options.
Dabang Delhi K.C.
The champions have Ashu Malik locked in. Their main decisions concern how much of the title-winning squad they keep around him, including Season 12 MVP Fazel Atrachali, who was bought at his base price of INR 30 lakh.
Gujarat Giants
Gujarat paid INR 2.23 crore for Mohammadreza Shadloui but finished 11th. With a new head coach, Randhir Singh Sehrawat, in place, Gujarat is one of the teams most likely to add names to the PKL 13 released players list, and any decision around its most expensive player would reshape the whole auction.
Haryana Steelers
Haryana finished fifth and lost in the Play-ins. Their decisions around raider Naveen Kumar, bought for INR 1.20 crore in Season 12, and their long-serving defensive core will show whether they refresh or reload.
Jaipur Pink Panthers
Jaipur reached Eliminator 1 but had a negative score difference of -48. Their Season 12 marquee signing, raider Nitin Kumar Dhankhar at INR 1.002 crore, is central to their Season 13 plans either way.
Patna Pirates
Patna has Deepak Singh locked in and a young core that produced the league’s top raider, Ayan Lohchab (316 raid points), and top defender, Navdeep (73 tackle points). Their decisions will focus on securing those young players on longer contracts.
Puneri Paltan
As Season 12 table-toppers and finalists, Puneri has little reason to break up its squad. Any PKL 13 released players from Puneri are likely to be fringe or backup players rather than core starters.
Tamil Thalaivas
Tamil Thalaivas won only six of 18 matches despite buying Arjun Deshwal (INR 1.405 crore) and Pawan Sehrawat (INR 59.50 lakh). This makes them a strong candidate for one of the longest lists of PKL 13 released players.
Telugu Titans
Telugu Titans reached Qualifier 2 and have already signed four new NYPs. A team that came so close to the Final will probably keep its core, so its PKL 13 released players may be only a handful of squad players.
U Mumba
U Mumba finished sixth and lost in the Play-ins. Their decisions around long-time leaders like Sunil Kumar and Amirmohammad Zafardanesh, both Elite Retained Players in Season 12, will define their direction.
UP Yoddhas
UP missed the postseason in ninth place. With a changed coaching setup, they may produce more PKL 13 released players to build a bigger auction purse around a new plan.
Season 12: The Biggest Released Players and Where They Went
The best way to understand what PKL 13 released players can mean for the auction is to look at what happened last time. Several of Season 12’s most talked-about auction moments involved players who had just been released.
| Player | Previous Situation | Season 12 Outcome | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naveen Kumar | Not retained by Dabang Delhi K.C. after six seasons and 1,102 raid points | Bought by Haryana Steelers | INR 1.20 crore |
| Ashu Malik | Entered the auction pool | Brought back by Dabang Delhi K.C. using a two-season FBM | INR 1.90 crore |
| Pawan Sehrawat | Entered the auction pool | Bought by Tamil Thalaivas after a late bidding war | INR 59.50 lakh |
| Fazel Atrachali | Entered the auction pool | Sold at base price, then named Season 12 MVP | INR 30 lakh |
| Pardeep Narwal | Entered the auction pool | Went unsold | No bid |
Lesson 1: Released Does Not Mean Finished
Fazel Atrachali is the perfect example. He was sold at his base price in Season 12 and finished the season as its Most Valuable Player, helping Delhi win the title. Released and cheaply bought players can become the difference between a good season and a championship.
Lesson 2: FBM Cards Change the Picture
Ashu Malik was in the auction pool, but Delhi used its FBM card to match the INR 1.90 crore bid and keep him. This is why fans should never assume a released star has left his team for good until the auction is over.
Lesson 3: Big Reputations Are Not Guaranteed a Contract
Pardeep Narwal, the league’s all-time leading raider, went unsold in Season 12. Pawan Sehrawat almost went unsold before a late bidding war. The auction increasingly rewards current form, fitness, and value rather than past records.
How PKL 13 Released Players Can Return
For PKL 13 released players, there are three main routes back into a PKL squad for Season 13:
Route 1: Winning Bid at the Auction
Any franchise can bid for a released player during the auction. The highest bidder signs him, subject to the FBM rule.
Route 2: Final Bid Match by His Former Team
When bidding closes, the player’s previous franchise can match the winning bid using its FBM card, if it still has one available. The official details and full rulebook for Season 13 will be confirmed alongside the auction announcement on prokabaddi.com.
Route 3: Replacement Signing During the Season
Players who go unsold can still join a team later as injury or absence replacements. Fan trackers report several replacement signings during Season 12, which shows that going unsold is not always the end of a player’s season.
PKL 13 Released Players by Role
When the official list arrives, the most useful way to read it is by playing role. Each franchise needs a balanced squad of raiders, defenders, and all-rounders, and the mix of players released in each role tells you where the auction’s biggest bidding battles are likely to happen.
Raiders
Raiders usually command the highest prices because they score most of a team’s points. In Season 12, the top of the auction was dominated by attacking players, with Devank Dalal, Ashu Malik, Arjun Deshwal, and Naveen Kumar all going for more than INR 1 crore. If several proven raiders appear among the PKL 13 released players, expect aggressive bidding from teams that finished low in the table and need points quickly.
Defenders
Defensive value has risen sharply in recent auctions. Season 12 saw Yogesh Dahiya become the most expensive Indian defender in PKL history at the time, bought by Bengaluru Bulls for INR 1.125 crore. Corner defenders with strong tackle records are especially valuable, which is why decisions on experienced defenders such as Nitesh Kumar will be followed closely.
All-Rounders
All-rounders give coaches flexibility because they can raid and defend. The most expensive player at the Season 12 auction was an all-rounder, Mohammadreza Shadloui, bought by Gujarat Giants for INR 2.23 crore. Any quality all-rounder released before Season 13 is likely to attract interest from several franchises at once.
Overseas Players
Overseas players, particularly from Iran, have been central to PKL’s best defences for years. Every franchise has to include overseas players in its squad, so released overseas stars rarely stay unsigned for long. Their availability can change the plans of teams that need to fill overseas slots.
Role Summary Table
| Role | Season 12 Benchmark Signing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Raider | Devank Dalal (Bengal Warriorz) | INR 2.205 crore |
| Defender | Yogesh Dahiya (Bengaluru Bulls) | INR 1.125 crore |
| All-rounder | Mohammadreza Shadloui (Gujarat Giants) | INR 2.23 crore |
What PKL 13 Released Players Mean for the Auction
The length and quality of the release lists directly shapes the auction. If franchises release many established stars, the PKL Season 13 auction becomes a high-spending event with multiple bidding wars at the top of Category A. If most teams keep their cores, the auction becomes more about depth, young talent, and bargain signings in the lower categories.
For fans, the PKL 13 released players announcement is the moment to start building auction predictions. Once you know which raiders, defenders, and all-rounders are available, and how much purse each team has left, you can start to see which franchises are likely to chase which players.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the PKL 13 released players list been published?
No. As of September 25, 2026, the league has not published the Season 13 retention and release decisions. This page will be updated when it does.
How do I know which players have been released?
To find the PKL 13 released players, compare each team’s Season 12 squad with its official Season 13 retention list. Any player missing from the retention list has been released into the auction pool. This tracker will list them team by team.
Which players’ contracts ended after Season 12?
Players signed through one-season FBM deals, such as Bengal Warriorz defenders Nitesh Kumar and Mayur Jagannath Kadam, finished their contracts after Season 12. They depend on a new retention decision for Season 13.
Can a released player return to his old team?
Yes. His former franchise can bid for him at the auction or use a Final Bid Match card to match the winning bid, if it has one available.
Are PKL 13 released players the same as unsold players?
No. A released player is let go before the auction. An unsold player is someone in the auction pool who did not receive a winning bid during the auction itself.
Who was the biggest released player in Season 12?
Naveen Kumar was the headline release. Dabang Delhi K.C. did not retain him after six seasons and 1,102 raid points, and Haryana Steelers bought him for INR 1.20 crore.
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