PKL MVP List: Most Valuable Player of Every Pro Kabaddi Season (1 to 12)
The PKL MVP list is a roll call of the league’s greatest players. From Anup Kumar in the very first season to Fazel Atrachali in Season 12, the Most Valuable Player award has gone to raiders, defenders and all-rounders, to Indian stars and to overseas legends. Only two players have won it twice, both in back-to-back seasons. This guide lists every MVP from Season 1 to Season 12, with their teams, stats where available, patterns in the award and what it takes to win it in Season 13.
PKL MVP List: Every Season
| Season | Year | Most Valuable Player | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 2014 | Anup Kumar | U Mumba |
| Season 2 | 2015 | Manjeet Chhillar | Bengaluru Bulls |
| Season 3 | 2016 | Rohit Kumar | Patna Pirates |
| Season 4 | 2016 | Pardeep Narwal | Patna Pirates |
| Season 5 | 2017 | Pardeep Narwal | Patna Pirates |
| Season 6 | 2018-19 | Pawan Kumar Sehrawat | Bengaluru Bulls |
| Season 7 | 2019 | Naveen Kumar | Dabang Delhi K.C. |
| Season 8 | 2021-22 | Naveen Kumar | Dabang Delhi K.C. |
| Season 9 | 2022 | Arjun Deshwal | Jaipur Pink Panthers |
| Season 10 | 2023-24 | Aslam Inamdar | Puneri Paltan |
| Season 11 | 2024 | Mohammadreza Shadloui | Haryana Steelers |
| Season 12 | 2025 | Fazel Atrachali | Dabang Delhi K.C. |
| Season 13 | 2026-27 | To be decided | – |
Key Takeaways
- Twelve MVP awards have gone to ten different players.
- Pardeep Narwal (Seasons 4 and 5) and Naveen Kumar (Seasons 7 and 8) are the only two-time winners.
- Patna Pirates and Dabang Delhi K.C. have produced the most MVPs, with three each.
- Two overseas players have won: Mohammadreza Shadloui and Fazel Atrachali, both from Iran.
- The Season 12 MVP, Fazel Atrachali, was bought at his base price of INR 30 lakh.
PKL MVP List by Team
| Team | MVP Awards | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Patna Pirates | 3 | Rohit Kumar, Pardeep Narwal (2) |
| Dabang Delhi K.C. | 3 | Naveen Kumar (2), Fazel Atrachali |
| Bengaluru Bulls | 2 | Manjeet Chhillar, Pawan Kumar Sehrawat |
| U Mumba | 1 | Anup Kumar |
| Jaipur Pink Panthers | 1 | Arjun Deshwal |
| Puneri Paltan | 1 | Aslam Inamdar |
| Haryana Steelers | 1 | Mohammadreza Shadloui |
Five franchises have never had a league MVP: Bengal Warriorz, Gujarat Giants, Tamil Thalaivas, Telugu Titans and UP Yoddhas.
PKL MVP List by Playing Role
| Role | MVP Winners | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Raiders | Anup Kumar, Rohit Kumar, Pardeep Narwal, Pawan Kumar Sehrawat, Naveen Kumar, Arjun Deshwal | 8 |
| All-rounders | Manjeet Chhillar, Aslam Inamdar, Mohammadreza Shadloui | 3 |
| Defenders | Fazel Atrachali | 1 |
Raiders have won most MVP awards, which makes Fazel Atrachali’s Season 12 win as a specialist defender especially notable. Player roles are described broadly here, since several stars contributed in both raiding and defending.
Every PKL MVP: Season-by-Season Stories
Season 1: Anup Kumar (U Mumba)
The first MVP was U Mumba captain Anup Kumar, who was also the season’s top raider with 155 raid points. He led Mumbai to the first final. Anup later became a coach and was Patna Pirates’ head coach in Season 12.
Season 2: Manjeet Chhillar (Bengaluru Bulls)
Manjeet Chhillar, a powerful all-rounder, had already been the top defender in Season 1 with 51 tackle points. His Season 2 MVP award helped Bengaluru reach the final.
Season 3: Rohit Kumar (Patna Pirates)
Rohit Kumar was the MVP as Patna won their first title, beating U Mumba 31-28 in the final.
Seasons 4 and 5: Pardeep Narwal (Patna Pirates)
Pardeep Narwal became the first back-to-back MVP. In Season 5 he scored 369 raid points in 26 matches, still one of the greatest single-season raiding tallies in PKL history, as Patna completed their hat-trick of titles. He went on to become the league’s all-time leading raider.
Season 6: Pawan Kumar Sehrawat (Bengaluru Bulls)
Pawan Sehrawat scored 271 raid points in 24 matches and led Bengaluru Bulls to their first title. It was the start of a remarkable run that made him one of PKL’s biggest stars.
Seasons 7 and 8: Naveen Kumar (Dabang Delhi K.C.)
Naveen Kumar became the second player to win MVP in consecutive seasons. In Season 8, he scored 207 points in 17 matches as Delhi won their first title, beating Patna 37-36 in the final.
Season 9: Arjun Deshwal (Jaipur Pink Panthers)
Arjun Deshwal scored 296 raid points in 24 matches, with a season-high 17 Super 10s and seven super raids, as Jaipur won their second title.
Season 10: Aslam Inamdar (Puneri Paltan)
Aslam Inamdar scored 168 points, made up of 142 raid points and 26 tackle points in 23 matches, as he captained Pune to their first title.
Season 11: Mohammadreza Shadloui (Haryana Steelers)
Iran’s Mohammadreza Shadloui became the first overseas MVP. He scored 139 total points in 24 matches, including 82 tackle points and 57 raid points, with five High 5s, as Haryana won their first title.
Season 12: Fazel Atrachali (Dabang Delhi K.C.)
PKL’s all-time leading defender was bought at his base price of INR 30 lakh and became the first specialist defender to win MVP. He also won the Tackle of the Final award as Delhi beat Puneri Paltan 31-28. The MVP prize in Season 12 was INR 20 lakh.
| Season | MVP | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|
| Season 5 | Pardeep Narwal | 369 raid points in 26 matches |
| Season 6 | Pawan Kumar Sehrawat | 271 raid points in 24 matches |
| Season 8 | Naveen Kumar | 207 points in 17 matches |
| Season 9 | Arjun Deshwal | 296 raid points, 17 Super 10s |
| Season 10 | Aslam Inamdar | 168 points (142 raid, 26 tackle) |
| Season 11 | Mohammadreza Shadloui | 139 points (82 tackle, 57 raid) |
| Season 12 | Fazel Atrachali | MVP and Tackle of the Final |
Does the MVP Usually Win the Title?
Often, yes. In many seasons the MVP played for the champions, which shows how much one outstanding player can shape a title run.
| Season | MVP’s Team | Champions | Same Team? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | U Mumba | Jaipur Pink Panthers | No |
| Season 2 | Bengaluru Bulls | U Mumba | No |
| Season 3 | Patna Pirates | Patna Pirates | Yes |
| Season 4 | Patna Pirates | Patna Pirates | Yes |
| Season 5 | Patna Pirates | Patna Pirates | Yes |
| Season 6 | Bengaluru Bulls | Bengaluru Bulls | Yes |
| Season 7 | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Bengal Warriors | No |
| Season 8 | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Yes |
| Season 9 | Jaipur Pink Panthers | Jaipur Pink Panthers | Yes |
| Season 10 | Puneri Paltan | Puneri Paltan | Yes |
| Season 11 | Haryana Steelers | Haryana Steelers | Yes |
| Season 12 | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Yes |
In nine of twelve seasons, the MVP played for the champions, including every season from Season 8 onwards. Full results are on our PKL winners list.
Other PKL Season Awards
The MVP sits alongside several other awards. Season 12’s winners show the range.
| Award | Season 12 Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Most Valuable Player | Fazel Atrachali | Dabang Delhi K.C. |
| Raider of the Season | Ayan Lohchab | Patna Pirates |
| Defender of the Season | Navdeep | Patna Pirates |
| New Young Player of the Season | Deepak Sankar | Bengaluru Bulls |
| Tackle of the Season | Sunil Kumar | U Mumba |
| Super Tackle of the Season | Shankar Gadai | Telugu Titans |
| Tackle of the Final | Fazel Atrachali | Dabang Delhi K.C. |
Season-by-season raiding and defending awards are covered in our PKL best raider and best defender guide, and prize amounts are in our PKL prize money guide.
Who Could Win the Season 13 MVP?
It is too early to name a favourite before the auction, but Season 12 suggests a few strong candidates.
| Player | Season 12 Case |
|---|---|
| Ayan Lohchab | 316 raid points and Raider of the Season |
| Devank Dalal | Best raid points average (16.94) and a long Super 10 streak |
| Navdeep | Defender of the Season with 73 tackle points |
| Jaideep Dahiya | Most super tackles and High 5s |
| Fazel Atrachali | Reigning MVP |
History says the MVP usually plays for a title-winning team, so the eventual winner may depend as much on the auction as on individual form. Our PKL records page tracks the numbers to watch.
PKL MVP List: Indian and Overseas Winners
| Category | MVP Awards | Players |
|---|---|---|
| Indian players | 10 | Anup Kumar, Manjeet Chhillar, Rohit Kumar, Pardeep Narwal (2), Pawan Kumar Sehrawat, Naveen Kumar (2), Arjun Deshwal, Aslam Inamdar |
| Overseas players | 2 | Mohammadreza Shadloui (Iran), Fazel Atrachali (Iran) |
The PKL MVP list was entirely Indian for the first ten seasons. Then two Iranian stars won back to back in Seasons 11 and 12, reflecting how central overseas defenders and all-rounders have become.
PKL MVP List: Where Are the Winners Now?
Many MVPs remain active, while others have moved into coaching. This table summarises their most recent known roles.
| MVP | Most Recent Known Role |
|---|---|
| Anup Kumar | Patna Pirates head coach in Season 12 |
| Pardeep Narwal | Went unsold at the Season 12 auction |
| Pawan Kumar Sehrawat | Played for Tamil Thalaivas in Season 12 |
| Naveen Kumar | Played for Haryana Steelers in Season 12 (bought for INR 1.20 crore) |
| Arjun Deshwal | Captained Tamil Thalaivas in Season 12 |
| Aslam Inamdar | Captained Puneri Paltan to the Season 12 final |
| Mohammadreza Shadloui | Captained Gujarat Giants in Season 12 |
| Fazel Atrachali | Season 12 MVP with Dabang Delhi K.C. |
PKL MVP List: Auction Value of Recent MVPs
MVPs usually command big prices at the next auction, but not always. Fazel Atrachali, a former tackle leader, was bought at his base price before winning the award.
| MVP | Season 12 Auction Result |
|---|---|
| Mohammadreza Shadloui (Season 11 MVP) | INR 2.23 crore to Gujarat Giants, the top price |
| Arjun Deshwal (Season 9 MVP) | INR 1.405 crore to Tamil Thalaivas |
| Naveen Kumar (Seasons 7 and 8 MVP) | INR 1.20 crore to Haryana Steelers |
| Pawan Kumar Sehrawat (Season 6 MVP) | INR 59.50 lakh to Tamil Thalaivas |
| Fazel Atrachali (Season 12 MVP) | INR 30 lakh to Dabang Delhi K.C., base price |
| Pardeep Narwal (Seasons 4 and 5 MVP) | Unsold |
More auction history is in our PKL auction hub.
How the PKL MVP Is Chosen
The Most Valuable Player award recognises the player who made the biggest overall impact across the season. Raw points matter, but so do consistency, influence in big matches and contribution to team success. That explains why the PKL MVP list sometimes differs from the top raid points scorer: in Season 9, Arjun Deshwal won MVP while Bharat Hooda won Raider of the Season, and in Season 12 the MVP went to a defender, Fazel Atrachali, rather than to top raider Ayan Lohchab.
PKL MVP List: Timeline at a Glance
| Era | MVPs | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Seasons 1-5 | Anup Kumar, Manjeet Chhillar, Rohit Kumar, Pardeep Narwal (2) | Early stars and the Patna dynasty |
| Seasons 6-8 | Pawan Kumar Sehrawat, Naveen Kumar (2) | The great raiders |
| Seasons 9-12 | Arjun Deshwal, Aslam Inamdar, Mohammadreza Shadloui, Fazel Atrachali | All-rounders and defenders rise |
PKL MVP list: Final Word
The PKL MVP list is a history of the league itself: early raiding legends, the Patna dynasty, the era of Pawan and Naveen, and the recent rise of all-rounders and defenders. Whoever adds their name in Season 13 will join a very exclusive group, and history suggests they will most likely be playing for the champions. This page will be updated with the Season 13 MVP as soon as the award is announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the PKL Season 12 MVP?
Fazel Atrachali of Dabang Delhi K.C. was the Season 12 MVP.
Who has won the most PKL MVP awards?
Pardeep Narwal and Naveen Kumar have each won the award twice, both in consecutive seasons.
Who was the first PKL MVP?
Anup Kumar of U Mumba was the first MVP, in Season 1 in 2014.
Has an overseas player won PKL MVP?
Yes. Iran’s Mohammadreza Shadloui won in Season 11 and Fazel Atrachali won in Season 12.
Which team has the most PKL MVPs?
Patna Pirates and Dabang Delhi K.C. have three MVP awards each.
How much prize money does the PKL MVP get?
In Season 12, the Most Valuable Player award was worth INR 20 lakh.
Has a defender ever won the PKL MVP award?
Yes. Fazel Atrachali became the first specialist defender to win MVP in Season 12. Mohammadreza Shadloui, an all-rounder known for his defending, won in Season 11.
Who won MVP when Patna Pirates won three titles in a row?
Rohit Kumar won MVP in Season 3, and Pardeep Narwal won in Seasons 4 and 5, all for Patna Pirates.
Who was the PKL MVP in Season 9?
Arjun Deshwal of Jaipur Pink Panthers was the Season 9 MVP, scoring 296 raid points as Jaipur won the title.
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