Every Pro Kabaddi League season brings a few surprise stars, and this year, U Mumba’s Sandeep Kumar has certainly made his mark. The young raider has impressed everyone in Season 12 with his sharp footwork, long reach, and athletic presence. He’s quickly become one of the main reasons U Mumba is pushing hard for their first title since 2015.
Sandeep Kumar’s Humble Beginnings in Bihar
Sandeep Kumar comes from Chamtha, a small village in Bihar’s Begusarai district. His love for kabaddi started early, playing with friends just for fun.
“When I was a kid, I used to play with my friends and became addicted to kabaddi. The people I used to play with all exited one by one, and finally, I was the only one left,” he shared. “PKL would come on TV and I used to watch it. The people at home used to ask when I would go, so slowly, after struggling, learning, practising, and working hard, I reached till here.”
The Army’s Role in Shaping a Player
It wasn’t just passion that helped Sandeep grow into a pro, his time in the Indian Army played a big part. His first coach, Dinesh, a retired army officer and NIS-certified trainer from Rohtak, mentored him in the early days. Now, Sandeep holds the rank of havaldar and plays for the Red Army kabaddi team.
That experience gave him the discipline and exposure he needed to stand out. His big break came in 2023 during a local tournament in Patna.
“There was a tournament happening in Patna, where I was playing for the home team. The Patna Pirates management and coach Narender Redhu sir had come for the tournament, and I was the best player. They called me for the camp in season 10,” he said.
A Sleeper’s Surprise at the PKL Auction
Sandeep Kumar’s entry into the PKL happened soon after, though it came with a bit of drama.
“My name was in the auction. I was actually sleeping, and my best friend Hitesh, who plays for UP Yoddhas, called me to ask if my name was there in the PKL auction. He said my name hadn’t come up yet, but I had checked that it was on the list,” he recalled. “So, I asked him where he was watching it. As soon as I opened YouTube, my auction started, and Patna Pirates picked me.”
Early Success and Tough Lessons
In his debut season with Patna, Sandeep Kumar got off to a solid start, picking up 87 raid points in 20 matches. The next year, however, was tougher, he managed only 43 points.
That season, he played alongside Devank Dalal and Ayan Lohchab, who are now among the top raiders in the league. Competing with such talented teammates taught him a lot.
“You have to focus on perfecting your skill. The defence in front of you is important, but if you execute your skills, you will score,” he said.
But with two top raiders in the team, Sandeep didn’t get many chances. He often played as the third raider or came in as a sub, and that took a toll on his confidence.
Still, he didn’t give up. “Never give up,” he said when asked what his PKL journey had taught him. “In the last season, I was getting fewer raids and became a little demotivated. I was very sad inside. I used to go for the matches and our team would win, so I was happy, but I was only getting 2-3 points, and I was a little sad about that.
“But I’ve learned one thing from life, which is to never give up. I started practising again and did well in nationals, in the army team, wherever I got a chance. Then the U Mumba management gave me a chance, and now I’m doing well here.”
A Fresh Start with U Mumba
This season, Sandeep Kumar moved from his home team Patna Pirates to U Mumba. It was a new chapter, and he was excited, especially since the squad included some familiar faces like Sunil Kumar and Parvesh Bhainswal.
“I was very happy. Players like Sunil bhai and Parvesh bhai are seniors I’ve met outside in local tournaments, even Rohit Raghav, Vijay Kumar, Lokesh Ghosliya bhai. The players in our team are people I meet off the mat too, so I was really happy when the franchise bought me,” he said.
Breaking Out in Season 12
Sandeep Kumar’s start with U Mumba wasn’t instant. He mostly came off the bench and started just one of the first seven matches. A minor injury and team strategy kept him on the sidelines for a while.
But everything changed in U Mumba’s last game of the Jaipur leg, a nail-biting tie-break loss to Jaipur Pink Panthers. Back in the starting seven, he exploded with a 14-point performance, kicking off a brilliant run that saw him notch four Super 10s in a row across the Jaipur and Chennai legs.
He’s now U Mumba’s top raider with 72 points from just seven games.
“Making four Super 10s in a row is a great feeling. Two of them came in matches we lost, so I wasn’t too happy, but the two Super 10s I’ve made in Chennai have come in matches where the team has won, so I’m really happy about that,” he said.
Team Spirit and Shared Goals
U Mumba’s raiding unit has serious depth, with names like Ajith Chouhan, Aanil Mohan, Rohit Raghav, Satish Kannan, and Amirmohammad Zafardanesh all contributing. According to Sandeep, their bond off the mat is what makes them strong on it.
“Every time one of us is in the playing seven, those on the bench boost him up with support and advice about defenders,” he said. “Even if one of us is sitting out, we support the others. Our team is not one where someone stays apart because they’re not in the team, everyone supports each other to play well.”
Eyes on the Trophy
With his form peaking and confidence sky-high, Sandeep Kumar is focused on helping U Mumba lift the trophy.
“Our main goal is to make the team qualify. After that, our eyes are on the trophy, because U Mumba won the trophy in Season 2, and last year I was in Patna, where we reached the final but couldn’t win. I was also not able to play because I had a fracture in my elbow and missed that. So, I want to make U Mumba play in the final and get the trophy,” he said.
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