PKL Coaches List 2026: Head Coaches of All 12 Teams and Season 13 Changes
The PKL coaches list for Season 13 already looks different from a year ago. Three franchises have confirmed new head coaches, including Randhir Singh Sehrawat’s return with Gujarat Giants and Jasveer Singh’s move from UP Yoddhas to Patna Pirates. This guide lists every Season 12 head coach, the confirmed Season 13 changes, each coach’s background and achievements, and what the changes mean for the teams before the auction.
PKL Coaches List 2026: Quick Answer
| Team | Season 12 Head Coach | Season 13 Head Coach |
|---|---|---|
| Bengal Warriorz | Naveen Kumar | To be confirmed |
| Bengaluru Bulls | BC Ramesh | To be confirmed |
| Dabang Delhi K.C. | Joginder Narwal | To be confirmed |
| Gujarat Giants | Jaivir Sharma | Randhir Singh Sehrawat (confirmed) |
| Haryana Steelers | Manpreet Singh | To be confirmed |
| Jaipur Pink Panthers | Narender Redhu | To be confirmed |
| Patna Pirates | Anup Kumar | Jasveer Singh (confirmed) |
| Puneri Paltan | Ajay Thakur | To be confirmed |
| Tamil Thalaivas | Sanjeev Baliyan | To be confirmed (change reported) |
| Telugu Titans | Krishan Kumar Hooda | To be confirmed |
| U Mumba | Anil Chaprana | To be confirmed (change reported) |
| UP Yoddhas | Jasveer Singh | Upendra Malik (confirmed) |
Key Takeaways
- Three teams have confirmed new head coaches for Season 13: Gujarat Giants, Patna Pirates and UP Yoddhas.
- Randhir Singh Sehrawat returns to PKL after a season away.
- Jasveer Singh moves from UP Yoddhas to Patna Pirates.
- Fan reports suggest Tamil Thalaivas and U Mumba could also change coaches.
- Season 12 champions Dabang Delhi K.C. were coached by Joginder Narwal.
Confirmed Season 13 Coaching Changes
Gujarat Giants: Randhir Singh Sehrawat
Arjuna Award winner Randhir Singh Sehrawat is one of the most experienced coaches in PKL history. He was Bengaluru Bulls’ head coach from Season 1 to Season 11, guided them to the Season 6 title and played a big part in developing Pawan Kumar Sehrawat into a superstar. Season 12 was the first season he was not in the league. Gujarat, who finished 11th under Jaivir Sharma, have turned to him for a fresh start.
Patna Pirates: Jasveer Singh
Jasveer Singh joined UP Yoddhas as a coach in 2018 after retiring from the army and led them from Season 6 to Season 12, reaching the playoffs five times in seven seasons. He announced he was stepping down after UP’s final league match of Season 12 and was quickly appointed by Patna Pirates, with Dinesh Kharb as assistant coach. Fan reports note that Patna have changed head coaches several times since Ram Mehar Singh left after Season 8.
UP Yoddhas: Upendra Malik
Upendra Malik has been an assistant coach in PKL since Season 6: at U Mumba in Seasons 6 and 7, at Jaipur Pink Panthers in Seasons 8 and 9, where he was part of the Season 9 title-winning staff, and at UP Yoddhas from Season 10 to Season 12. He has now been promoted to head coach.
| Team | New Coach | Previous Role | Key Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gujarat Giants | Randhir Singh Sehrawat | Bengaluru Bulls head coach (Seasons 1-11) | Season 6 title |
| Patna Pirates | Jasveer Singh | UP Yoddhas head coach (Seasons 6-12) | Five playoff appearances in seven seasons |
| UP Yoddhas | Upendra Malik | Assistant coach at three franchises | Part of Jaipur’s Season 9 title staff |
PKL Coaches List: Every Season 12 Head Coach Profiled
Bengal Warriorz: Naveen Kumar
A former India international with multiple gold medals, including at the 2006 Asian Games and the 2007 Kabaddi World Cup, Naveen Kumar joined Bengal for Season 12. He had previously coached teams including the Indian Navy and SAI sides.
Bengaluru Bulls: BC Ramesh
BC Ramesh is a two-time PKL title-winning coach, having led Bengal Warriorz to the Season 7 title and Puneri Paltan to the Season 10 title. He was also an assistant when the Bulls won Season 6, and he is an Arjuna Awardee. Under him, the Bulls finished third in Season 12 with the league’s best score difference.
Dabang Delhi K.C.: Joginder Narwal
Joginder Narwal is a former Delhi defender and captain who was retained as head coach for Season 12. He guided Delhi to the Season 12 title, with the team finishing second in the league before beating Puneri Paltan 31-28 in the final.
Gujarat Giants: Jaivir Sharma
Jaivir Sharma brought more than 30 years of coaching experience, including work with SAI and India teams that won Asian Games and World Cup gold. Gujarat finished 11th under him in Season 12.
Haryana Steelers: Manpreet Singh
Manpreet Singh led Haryana to their first title in Season 11. As a player he won a title with Patna Pirates, and as a coach he took Gujarat to the finals of Seasons 5 and 6.
Jaipur Pink Panthers: Narender Redhu
Narender Redhu joined Jaipur for Season 12 after guiding a young Patna Pirates side to the Season 11 final and the Season 10 playoffs.
Patna Pirates: Anup Kumar
Former India captain and Arjuna Award winner Anup Kumar coached Patna in Season 12. As a player, he captained U Mumba to three straight finals and the Season 2 title, and was the league’s first MVP.
Puneri Paltan: Ajay Thakur
Ajay Thakur, a former India captain and Padma Shri awardee, was promoted from assistant coach for Season 12. He won gold at the 2014 Asian Games and the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup as a player, and led Pune to the Season 12 final as coach.
Tamil Thalaivas: Sanjeev Baliyan
Sanjeev Baliyan, an Arjuna Awardee, won titles as a coach with Patna Pirates (Season 3) and Jaipur Pink Panthers (Season 9). He joined Tamil Thalaivas for Season 12, which ended in tenth place. Fan reports say he has since left the franchise.
Telugu Titans: Krishan Kumar Hooda
Dronacharya Award winner Krishan Kumar Hooda guided Dabang Delhi to their first title in Season 8. He took the Titans to fourth place and Qualifier 2 in Season 12, their best campaign in years.
U Mumba: Anil Chaprana
Anil Chaprana returned to the head coach role for Season 12 after a season as assistant. U Mumba finished sixth and reached the Play-ins.
UP Yoddhas: Jasveer Singh
Jasveer Singh led UP for the seventh season in a row before stepping down and moving to Patna for Season 13.
Season 12 Results by Head Coach
| Coach | Team | Season 12 Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Joginder Narwal | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Champions (2nd in league) |
| Ajay Thakur | Puneri Paltan | Runners-up (1st in league) |
| Krishan Kumar Hooda | Telugu Titans | Qualifier 2 (4th) |
| Anup Kumar | Patna Pirates | Eliminator 3 (7th) |
| BC Ramesh | Bengaluru Bulls | Eliminator 2 (3rd) |
| Narender Redhu | Jaipur Pink Panthers | Eliminator 1 (8th) |
| Manpreet Singh | Haryana Steelers | Play-in 1 (5th) |
| Anil Chaprana | U Mumba | Play-in 2 (6th) |
| Jasveer Singh | UP Yoddhas | 9th |
| Sanjeev Baliyan | Tamil Thalaivas | 10th |
| Jaivir Sharma | Gujarat Giants | 11th |
| Naveen Kumar | Bengal Warriorz | 12th |
The full standings are on our PKL points table page.
PKL Coaches List: Title-Winning Coaches
Several current and recent coaches have won the PKL title. This list shows how much experience is spread across the league.
| Coach | Title(s) as Coach |
|---|---|
| BC Ramesh | Season 7 (Bengal Warriors), Season 10 (Puneri Paltan) |
| Sanjeev Baliyan | Season 3 (Patna Pirates), Season 9 (Jaipur Pink Panthers) |
| Randhir Singh Sehrawat | Season 6 (Bengaluru Bulls) |
| Krishan Kumar Hooda | Season 8 (Dabang Delhi K.C.) |
| Manpreet Singh | Season 11 (Haryana Steelers) |
| Joginder Narwal | Season 12 (Dabang Delhi K.C.) |
See every champion in our PKL winners list.
Former Players Who Became PKL Coaches
Many PKL coaches were top players before moving into the dugout, bringing first-hand knowledge of the league.
| Coach | Playing Highlight |
|---|---|
| Anup Kumar | Season 1 MVP, Season 2 title-winning captain with U Mumba |
| Ajay Thakur | India captain, 2016 Kabaddi World Cup winner |
| Joginder Narwal | Former Dabang Delhi defender and captain |
| Manpreet Singh | PKL champion as a player with Patna Pirates |
What the Coaching Changes Mean for the PKL 13 Auction
New coaches usually want to build squads that suit their style, which can lead to more releases and bigger auction plans. Gujarat, Patna and UP could all reshape their rosters. Our PKL auction hub explains how retentions and the purse affect those plans.
| Team | Likely Coaching Focus |
|---|---|
| Gujarat Giants | A new identity after an 11th-place finish |
| Patna Pirates | Keeping and developing young stars Ayan Lohchab and Navdeep |
| UP Yoddhas | Building around young raider Gagana Gowda |
PKL Coaches List: Season 13 Tracker
This tracker will be updated as each franchise confirms its Season 13 head coach. Teams marked “To be confirmed” may keep their Season 12 coach or announce a change.
| Team | Season 13 Head Coach | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Gujarat Giants | Randhir Singh Sehrawat | Confirmed |
| Patna Pirates | Jasveer Singh (assistant: Dinesh Kharb) | Confirmed |
| UP Yoddhas | Upendra Malik | Confirmed |
| Tamil Thalaivas | To be confirmed | Change reported |
| U Mumba | To be confirmed | Change reported |
| Other seven teams | To be confirmed | Awaiting announcements |
PKL Coaches List: Coaching Moves Between Teams
The PKL coaches list changes often, and many coaches have worked at several franchises. These recent moves show how connected the league’s coaching world is.
| Coach | Recent Path |
|---|---|
| Randhir Singh Sehrawat | Bengaluru Bulls (Seasons 1-11), out of the league in Season 12, Gujarat Giants (Season 13) |
| Jasveer Singh | UP Yoddhas (Seasons 6-12), Patna Pirates (Season 13) |
| Narender Redhu | Patna Pirates (Seasons 10-11), Jaipur Pink Panthers (Season 12) |
| Sanjeev Baliyan | Jaipur Pink Panthers (Season 9 title), Tamil Thalaivas (Season 12) |
| BC Ramesh | Bengal (Season 7 title), Puneri Paltan (Season 10 title), Bengaluru Bulls (Season 12) |
| Upendra Malik | Assistant at U Mumba, Jaipur and UP; UP head coach for Season 13 |
How Head Coaches Shape a PKL Season
Head coaches influence every part of a franchise’s season, from the auction table to the final whistle.
| Stage | Coach’s Role |
|---|---|
| Retentions | Advising which players to keep |
| Auction | Choosing targets that fit the playing style |
| Training camp | Building fitness, combinations and tactics |
| Matchday | Line-ups, substitutions and time-outs |
| Playoffs | Managing pressure in knockout matches |
Because coaches have such a big influence on the auction, the PKL coaches list for Season 13 is worth following closely before bidding begins. Our PKL 13 auction date page tracks the timeline.
PKL Coaches List: Awards and Honours
Several coaches on the PKL coaches list hold national sports awards, reflecting long careers in Indian kabaddi.
| Coach | Notable Honour |
|---|---|
| Randhir Singh Sehrawat | Arjuna Award |
| BC Ramesh | Arjuna Award |
| Anup Kumar | Arjuna Award |
| Sanjeev Baliyan | Arjuna Award |
| Ajay Thakur | Padma Shri and Arjuna Award |
| Krishan Kumar Hooda | Dronacharya Award |
PKL coaches list: Final Word
The PKL coaches list for Season 13 is still taking shape, but the three confirmed changes already promise interesting storylines. A title-winning veteran returns at Gujarat, UP’s long-serving coach now leads their rivals Patna, and a trusted assistant gets his first head coach role. As the remaining franchises confirm their staff, this PKL coaches list will be updated so fans always know who is in charge of each team before the auction and the first match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which PKL teams have new coaches for Season 13?
Gujarat Giants (Randhir Singh Sehrawat), Patna Pirates (Jasveer Singh) and UP Yoddhas (Upendra Malik) have confirmed new head coaches.
Who coached the Season 12 champions?
Joginder Narwal coached Dabang Delhi K.C. to the Season 12 title.
Which coach has won the most PKL titles?
BC Ramesh and Sanjeev Baliyan have each won two titles as head coaches.
Who is the longest-serving coach at one PKL team?
Randhir Singh Sehrawat coached Bengaluru Bulls from Season 1 to Season 11, the longest spell with one franchise.
Who coached Puneri Paltan in Season 12?
Former India captain Ajay Thakur coached Puneri Paltan in Season 12, leading them to the final.
Will Tamil Thalaivas and U Mumba change coaches?
Fan reports suggested both franchises were expected to appoint new head coaches for Season 13, but no official announcements had been found at the time of writing.
Who is the head coach of Dabang Delhi K.C.?
Joginder Narwal coached Dabang Delhi K.C. in Season 12, when they won the title. Delhi have not announced a change for Season 13.
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