 "Pro Kabaddi League: Dabang Delhi announces Naveen as captain for PKL 2023")
Ahead of season 10 of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL 2023), Dabang Delhi KC announced raider Naveen Kumar as their captain. Defender Vishal Bhardwaj has been named as Naveen's deputy.
Renowned as one of Kabaddi's most celebrated players, Naveen has showcased exceptional leadership through his breathtaking raids, pivotal game-changing moments, and a resilient mindset steering the team towards championships.
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Dabang Delhi won the PKL title once as they emerged victorious in season 9 of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL 2021). During Delhi's victorious campaign, Naveen Kumar scored 207 raid points in 17 matches and became the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for a second consecutive year.
Among the all-time raiders standing in PKL, Naveen Kumar is at the fifth spot with 788 raid points in 85 matches.
Top 10 raiders in Pro Kabaddi League history ahead of PKL 2023
| Rank | Name | Matches Played | Successful Raids |
| 1 | Pardeep Narwal | 153 | 1180 |
| 2 | Maninder Singh | 122 | 958 |
| 3 | Rahul Chaudhari | 150 | 854 |
| 4 | Deepak Hooda | 157 | 835 |
| 5 | Naveen Kumar | 85 | 788 |
| 6 | Pawan Sehrawat | 105 | 765 |
| 7 | Ajay Thakur | 120 | 643 |
| 8 | Sachin | 106 | 643 |
| 9 | Vikash Kandola | 101 | 583 |
| 10 | Rohit Kumar | 101 | 559 |
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"His unwavering dedication to the team is unquestionable. With a well-balanced squad of talented young players, Naveen, being young himself, will inspire and nurture their growth. Supported by the seasoned defender and Vice Captain - Vishal Bhardwaj, we expect the team to perform this season highly. Naveen demonstrated commendable leadership skills last season, earning praise from Kabaddi enthusiasts. We expect the same level of support this season," says Mr Durganath Wagle, CEO of Dabang Delhi.
In the PKL 2023 auction, Dabang Dehi K.C. has strengthened its squad for the forthcoming Season 10 of the league by picking up a mix of young and experienced talent, including Ashu Malik, Ashish Narwal, Suraj Panwar, Manjeet, Meetu, Manu, Vijay, Sunil and many more.