- Gujarat Giants acquire the services of Mohammadreza Shadloui (Rs. 2.23 crore), Ajith V Kumar, and Nitin Panwar amongst other signings at PKL 12 auction
- Gujarat Giants made crucial signings with a successful, cohesive and strategic approach PKL auction
- Gujarat Giants had retained Himanshu Singh, Himanshu, Parteek Dahiya and Rakesh ahead of the PKL auctions
NE SPORTS BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, JUNE 1
Gujarat Giants, owned by Adani Sportsline, celebrated a successful outing at Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 12 Auction held over the weekend in Mumbai. Led by Head Coach Jaivir Sharma and Assistant Coach Varinder Singh Sandhu, Gujarat Giants have assembled a solid squad with a mix of young and experienced players.
Mohammadreza Shadloui, the Most Valuable Player in the league last season, was the marquee signing for the team on day one. The Iranian was signed for Rs. 2.23 crore, making him the most expensive signing of PKL12 Auctions.
The two-time PKL champion has recorded 448 points, including 94 raid points and 354 tackle points in 92 matches so far. He has also registered 4 Super Raids, 19 Super Tackles and 32 High 5s in his PKL career. His all-round prowess has also earned him the accolade of the Best Defender of the Season Award twice (in Season 8 and Season 10).
Gujarat Giants opened Day 2 by securing Iranian defender Milad Jabbari for Rs. 13.6 lakh. Their next big pick was rising star Nitin Panwar at Rs. 13.7 lakh, followed defender Rohit Kumar, who was signed for Rs. 13 lakh.
The squad was further bolstered with strategic buys that included Lucky Sharma (Rs 19.5 lakh), Shubham Kumar (Rs 27.4 lakh, Himanshu Yadav (Rs 9 lakh), Sumit (Rs 9 lakh), Amit (Rs 9 lakh) and K Harish (Rs 9 lakh), Visvanth V (Rs 13 lakh), Ajith V Kumar (Rs 36.30 lakh), and Ankit (Rs 9 lakh).
These new signings will be playing alongside Gujarat Giants’ retained players, that were announced ahead of the PKL12 auction. Himanshu Singh and Himanshu were retained in the Elite Retained Players (ERP) list, while emerging stars Parteek Dahiya and Rakesh were retained in the Retained Young Players (RYP) list for the Giants.
Staying true to its philosophy of backing young talent and offering them the platform to rise and shine, Gujarat Giants, under the new dynamic leadership of Jaivir Sharma and Varinder Singh Sandhu, will leave no stones unturned in achieving their objectives in the 12th edition of the PKL.
Also highlighting the team’s vision for the upcoming season, Mr Sanjay Adesara, Chief Business Officer, Adani Sportsline, said, “At Adani Sportsline, we believe in building teams that are not just competitive but are inspirational. We’re determined to succeed together with a refreshed squad and new coaching staff. With all these aspects, we’re confident that this season will mark a new and exciting chapter for the Gujarat Giants and its fans.”
Sharing his thoughts on the squad for PKL 12, Head Coach Jaivir Sharma shared, “We’ve collectively built a strong squad at the auction with some exciting additions to our team. We’ve managed to get a good balance of youth and experience in the team. We’re looking forward to getting this group together and I believe that we have what it takes to compete for the PKL title.”
Gujarat Giants full squad
Raiders
Himanshu Singh, Himanshu, Parteek Dahiya, Rakesh, Shridhar Ananda Kadam, K Harish, Ajith V Kumar, Ankit.
Defenders
Shubham Kumar, Lucky Sharma, Rohit Kumar, Sumit, Amit.
All-Rounders
Mohammadreza Shadloui, Milad Jabbari, Himanshu Yadav, Visvanth V, Nitin Panwar.
