PKL Captains List 2026: All 12 Team Captains, Season 12 Leaders and Season 13
The PKL captains list tells you a lot about how each franchise sees itself. Some teams hand the armband to a star raider, others to a veteran defender, and a few to an overseas all-rounder. Season 12 included title-winning captains such as Sunil Kumar and Aslam Inamdar, and saw Ashu Malik lead Dabang Delhi K.C. to the championship. This guide lists every Season 12 captain, compares them with Season 11, profiles the leaders, and explains what to expect when Season 13 captains are announced.
PKL Captains List: Season 12
| Team | Season 12 Captain | Role | Season 12 Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bengal Warriorz | Devank Dalal | Raider | 12th |
| Bengaluru Bulls | Yogesh Dahiya | Defender | 3rd |
| Dabang Delhi K.C. | Ashu Malik | Raider | Champions |
| Gujarat Giants | Mohammadreza Shadloui | All-rounder | 11th |
| Haryana Steelers | Jaideep Dahiya | Defender | 5th |
| Jaipur Pink Panthers | Reza Mirbagheri | Defender | 8th |
| Patna Pirates | Ankit Jaglan | All-rounder / defender | 7th |
| Puneri Paltan | Aslam Inamdar | All-rounder | Runners-up |
| Tamil Thalaivas | Arjun Deshwal | Raider | 10th |
| Telugu Titans | Vijay Malik | All-rounder | 4th |
| U Mumba | Sunil Kumar | Defender | 6th |
| UP Yoddhas | Sumit Sangwan | Defender | 9th |
Captaincy can change during a season because of injuries or team decisions. This table reflects the captains listed for the season.
Key Takeaways
- Ashu Malik captained Dabang Delhi K.C. to the Season 12 title.
- Five Season 12 captains were defenders, four were all-rounders and three were raiders.
- Two captains were from overseas: Mohammadreza Shadloui and Reza Mirbagheri, both from Iran.
- Sunil Kumar and Aslam Inamdar are both former title-winning captains.
- Season 13 captains will be confirmed after the auction.
PKL Captains List: Season 11 vs Season 12
Many franchises changed captains between seasons, often because of the auction.
| Team | Season 11 Captain | Season 12 Captain | Changed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bengal Warriorz | Fazel Atrachali | Devank Dalal | Yes |
| Bengaluru Bulls | Pardeep Narwal | Yogesh Dahiya | Yes |
| Dabang Delhi K.C. | Naveen Kumar and Ashu Malik (co-captains) | Ashu Malik | Partly |
| Gujarat Giants | Neeraj Kumar | Mohammadreza Shadloui | Yes |
| Haryana Steelers | Jaideep Dahiya | Jaideep Dahiya | No |
| Jaipur Pink Panthers | Arjun Deshwal | Reza Mirbagheri | Yes |
| Patna Pirates | Shubham Shinde | Ankit Jaglan | Yes |
| Puneri Paltan | Aslam Inamdar | Aslam Inamdar | No |
| Tamil Thalaivas | Sagar | Arjun Deshwal | Yes |
| Telugu Titans | Pawan Sehrawat | Vijay Malik | Yes |
| U Mumba | Sunil Kumar | Sunil Kumar | No |
| UP Yoddhas | Surender Gill | Sumit Sangwan | Yes |
Only three franchises kept exactly the same captain: Haryana Steelers, Puneri Paltan and U Mumba. Several moves were linked to auction changes. Arjun Deshwal, for example, captained Jaipur in Season 11 and Tamil Thalaivas in Season 12 after moving at the auction. Fazel Atrachali captained Bengal in Season 11 and then won the Season 12 MVP award at Delhi.
PKL Captains List: Profiles of Season 12 Leaders
Ashu Malik (Dabang Delhi K.C.)
The champion captain. Delhi kept Ashu with a two-season Final Bid Match deal worth INR 1.90 crore, so he is already contracted for Season 13. He was the Season 10 Raider of the Season with 276 raid points and recorded the second-most super raids in Season 12.
Aslam Inamdar (Puneri Paltan)
Aslam led Pune to the Season 10 title and was that season’s Most Valuable Player. He became the first Maharashtrian captain to win PKL, and in Season 12 he took Pune to first place in the league and the final.
Sunil Kumar (U Mumba)
Sunil Kumar is often described as PKL’s most successful captain. He led Jaipur Pink Panthers to the Season 9 title and has captained U Mumba since. In Season 12 he scored 52 tackle points and won the Tackle of the Season award.
Jaideep Dahiya (Haryana Steelers)
Jaideep captained Haryana to their first title in Season 11 and kept the armband in Season 12. He had the most super tackles (13) and High 5s (7) in Season 12, and the second-most tackle points (68).
Mohammadreza Shadloui (Gujarat Giants)
The most expensive player of the Season 12 auction at INR 2.23 crore, Shadloui was Season 11’s MVP. He captained Gujarat from left corner in Season 12.
Devank Dalal (Bengal Warriorz)
Season 11’s Best Raider, Devank led Bengal in Season 12 and finished with 271 raid points and the league’s best average of 16.94 per match.
Arjun Deshwal (Tamil Thalaivas)
The Season 9 MVP captained Tamil Thalaivas after joining for INR 1.405 crore. He passed 1,300 career raid points during Season 12.
Vijay Malik (Telugu Titans)
The experienced all-rounder, kept by the Titans with a one-season FBM card, led them to fourth place and Qualifier 2.
Yogesh Dahiya (Bengaluru Bulls)
Bought for INR 1.125 crore, Yogesh captained a rebuilt Bulls team to third place and scored 51 tackle points.
Ankit Jaglan (Patna Pirates)
Patna matched a INR 1.573 crore bid to keep Ankit, then made him captain. The team reached Eliminator 3.
Reza Mirbagheri (Jaipur Pink Panthers)
The Iranian defender was one of the players Jaipur kept before the Season 12 auction and led the team to the postseason.
Sumit Sangwan (UP Yoddhas)
Left corner Sumit scored 46 tackle points while captaining UP in Season 12.
PKL Captains List by Role
| Role | Season 12 Captains | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Defenders | Yogesh Dahiya, Jaideep Dahiya, Reza Mirbagheri, Sunil Kumar, Sumit Sangwan | 5 |
| All-rounders | Mohammadreza Shadloui, Ankit Jaglan, Aslam Inamdar, Vijay Malik | 4 |
| Raiders | Devank Dalal, Ashu Malik, Arjun Deshwal | 3 |
Defenders are often chosen as captains because they see the whole mat from the back and organise the defensive line. Raiders bring energy and lead by example in do-or-die moments.
Captains of Title-Winning Teams
| Season | Champion | Captain Noted in This Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Season 9 | Jaipur Pink Panthers | Sunil Kumar |
| Season 10 | Puneri Paltan | Aslam Inamdar |
| Season 11 | Haryana Steelers | Jaideep Dahiya |
| Season 12 | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Ashu Malik |
Every champion is listed in our PKL winners list.
Who Could Captain in Season 13?
Season 13 captains depend on retentions and the auction. Some likely scenarios, based on contracts and Season 12 form:
| Team | Situation |
|---|---|
| Dabang Delhi K.C. | Ashu Malik is contracted, so continuity is possible |
| Puneri Paltan | Aslam Inamdar is a strong retention candidate |
| U Mumba | Sunil Kumar is a strong retention candidate |
| Haryana Steelers | Jaideep Dahiya had an outstanding Season 12 |
| Gujarat, Patna, UP | New head coaches may choose new leaders |
| Tamil Thalaivas | Depends on the decision about Arjun Deshwal |
These are scenarios, not confirmed appointments. Squad details are in our team guides, such as the U Mumba squad and Puneri Paltan squad pages.
What Makes a Good PKL Captain?
| Quality | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Reading the game | Knowing when to attack and when to defend |
| Calm in tight finishes | Many matches are decided in the last minutes |
| Communication | Organising the defensive chain on every raid |
| Consistency | Leading by example across a long season |
| Experience | Handling pressure in playoffs and finals |
Our PKL coaches list covers the other half of every team’s leadership.
PKL Captains List: Season 13 Tracker
The PKL captains list for Season 13 will be filled in as franchises announce their leaders after the auction.
| Team | Season 12 Captain | Season 13 Captain |
|---|---|---|
| Bengal Warriorz | Devank Dalal | To be announced |
| Bengaluru Bulls | Yogesh Dahiya | To be announced |
| Dabang Delhi K.C. | Ashu Malik | To be announced |
| Gujarat Giants | Mohammadreza Shadloui | To be announced |
| Haryana Steelers | Jaideep Dahiya | To be announced |
| Jaipur Pink Panthers | Reza Mirbagheri | To be announced |
| Patna Pirates | Ankit Jaglan | To be announced |
| Puneri Paltan | Aslam Inamdar | To be announced |
| Tamil Thalaivas | Arjun Deshwal | To be announced |
| Telugu Titans | Vijay Malik | To be announced |
| U Mumba | Sunil Kumar | To be announced |
| UP Yoddhas | Sumit Sangwan | To be announced |
PKL Captains List: Season 12 Captains’ Contract Status
Whether a Season 12 captain returns depends heavily on his contract. This table summarises what is known about each leader before the retention list.
| Captain | Team | Season 13 Contract Position |
|---|---|---|
| Ashu Malik | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Contracted (two-season FBM) |
| Ankit Jaglan | Patna Pirates | One-season FBM ended; retention decision |
| Vijay Malik | Telugu Titans | One-season FBM ended; retention decision |
| Mohammadreza Shadloui | Gujarat Giants | Retention decision at a high price |
| Devank Dalal | Bengal Warriorz | Retention decision at a high price |
| Arjun Deshwal | Tamil Thalaivas | Retention decision |
| Aslam Inamdar, Sunil Kumar, Jaideep Dahiya | Pune, Mumbai, Haryana | Strong retention candidates |
PKL Captains List: Captains in Season 12 Playoffs
| Captain | Team | Playoff Result |
|---|---|---|
| Ashu Malik | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Won the title |
| Aslam Inamdar | Puneri Paltan | Runners-up |
| Vijay Malik | Telugu Titans | Lost Qualifier 2 |
| Ankit Jaglan | Patna Pirates | Lost Eliminator 3 |
| Yogesh Dahiya | Bengaluru Bulls | Lost Eliminator 2 |
| Reza Mirbagheri | Jaipur Pink Panthers | Lost Eliminator 1 |
| Jaideep Dahiya | Haryana Steelers | Lost Play-in 1 |
| Sunil Kumar | U Mumba | Lost Play-in 2 |
The full playoff format is explained in our PKL playoffs schedule guide.
Captaincy Awards and Achievements
Several captains on the PKL captains list also collected individual awards in recent seasons.
| Captain | Award | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Aslam Inamdar | Most Valuable Player | Season 10 |
| Ashu Malik | Raider of the Season | Season 10 |
| Arjun Deshwal | Most Valuable Player | Season 9 |
| Mohammadreza Shadloui | Most Valuable Player | Season 11 |
| Devank Dalal | Raider of the Season | Season 11 |
| Sunil Kumar | Tackle of the Season | Season 12 |
Every MVP is listed in our PKL MVP list.
How PKL Teams Choose Their Captains
There is no single formula, but most franchises weigh a few factors when building their PKL captains list for a new season: experience, consistency, the respect of teammates, and whether the player will be on the mat for most of the season. Contract length also matters, since teams prefer captains who are tied to the club. That is why many announcements come only after the auction, once squads are settled.
PKL captains list: Final Word
The PKL captains list for Season 13 will only be complete once squads are settled. Some leaders, such as contracted Delhi captain Ashu Malik, are well placed to continue. Others depend on retention decisions, new coaches or auction results. Whatever happens, captaincy will again be a key factor in close matches, where calm decision-making often separates winners from losers. This PKL captains list will be updated as soon as each franchise names its Season 13 leader, so bookmark it and check back after the auction.
PKL Captains List: Raider vs Defender Captains Who Reached the Final
Season 12’s finalists show that different captaincy styles can succeed. Champion captain Ashu Malik is a raider who leads by scoring in big moments, while runners-up captain Aslam Inamdar is an all-rounder who controls the game from both ends. In Season 11, Haryana won the title under defender Jaideep Dahiya. There is no single model on the PKL captains list that guarantees success.
| Season | Champion Captain | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Season 11 | Jaideep Dahiya | Defender |
| Season 12 | Ashu Malik | Raider |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who captained the Season 12 champions?
Ashu Malik captained Dabang Delhi K.C. to the Season 12 title.
Have the PKL Season 13 captains been announced?
No. Season 13 captains are usually confirmed after the auction, once squads are set.
Which PKL captain is the most successful?
Sunil Kumar is often described as the league’s most successful captain. He led Jaipur Pink Panthers to the Season 9 title and captains U Mumba.
Which teams kept the same captain in Season 12?
Haryana Steelers (Jaideep Dahiya), Puneri Paltan (Aslam Inamdar) and U Mumba (Sunil Kumar) kept the same captain as in Season 11.
Were any Season 12 captains from overseas?
Yes. Iran’s Mohammadreza Shadloui captained Gujarat Giants and Reza Mirbagheri captained Jaipur Pink Panthers.
Who captained Tamil Thalaivas in Season 12?
Arjun Deshwal captained Tamil Thalaivas in Season 12 after joining from Jaipur Pink Panthers.
Who captained Haryana Steelers in Season 12?
Jaideep Dahiya captained Haryana Steelers in Season 12, having also led them to the Season 11 title.
Who captained Patna Pirates in Season 12?
Ankit Jaglan captained Patna Pirates in Season 12 after the franchise kept him with a INR 1.573 crore Final Bid Match deal.
When will Season 13 captains be announced?
Captains are usually confirmed after the player auction and before the season starts. The Season 13 auction date has not been officially announced yet.
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