The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India has announced a strong 12-member men’s kabaddi squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Veteran defender Sunil Kumar will lead the team as captain, while the squad also includes several young players who have made their mark in the Pro Kabaddi League.
India kabaddi squad for Asian Games 2026 has a mix of experience and youth. Eight players are set to make their Asian Games debut, while only four players from India’s gold-medal-winning team at the 2022 Asian Games have returned. Sunil Kumar, Pawan Sehrawat, Arjun Deshwal and Aslam Inamdar are the four returning players.
PKL Team-wise Representation in India Squad
Seven different PKL franchises have players in India’s Asian Games squad. Tamil Thalaivas and Puneri Paltan have the highest representation with two players each, while Patna Pirates and Haryana Steelers have also contributed two players apiece.
Tamil Thalaivas are represented by star raider Pawan Sehrawat and Arjun Deshwal. Both players offer major attacking strength and give India two experienced right raiders who can take responsibility during important moments.
Puneri Paltan have Aslam Inamdar and Gaurav Khatri in the squad. Inamdar provides all-round ability, while Khatri is a strong right corner defender who can play an important role in India’s defensive setup.
Patna Pirates have contributed left raider Ayan Lohchab and left corner defender Ankit Jaglan. Lohchab enjoyed an outstanding PKL Season 12 campaign and has earned his place among India’s leading attacking options.
Haryana Steelers have Jaideep Dahiya and Rahul Sethpal. The defensive pair already share club experience and could bring strong understanding and coordination to the national team.
Bengal Warriorz have Devank Dalal, while Dabang Delhi K.C. are represented by Ashu Malik. Both are powerful right raiders and add more depth to India’s attacking unit. U Mumba captain Sunil Kumar brings leadership and defensive experience, while UP Yoddhas defender Sumit Sangwan completes the squad.
PKL Players in India Asian Games Squad
The PKL players in India Asian Games squad include some of the league’s biggest names as well as several emerging stars. The raiding department looks particularly strong, with Ayan Lohchab and Devank Dalal coming off excellent PKL Season 12 campaigns.
Lohchab finished the season with 316 raid points, making him the highest scoring raider in the squad from that campaign. Devank followed with 271 raid points. Alongside them, India will have experienced raiders such as Pawan Sehrawat, Arjun Deshwal and Ashu Malik.
The defensive unit also benefits from existing club partnerships. Jaideep Dahiya and Rahul Sethpal have developed strong chemistry with Haryana Steelers, while Gaurav Khatri and Sumit Sangwan provide further defensive strength.
Asian Games Kabaddi India Team Has Great Balance
The Asian Games kabaddi India team has been selected with flexibility in mind. Aslam Inamdar and Pawan Sehrawat can contribute in both attack and defence, giving the coaching staff more options during close matches.
With seven PKL franchises represented, India have combined different styles and club experiences in one squad. The presence of four returning gold medal winners should also provide valuable experience to the eight debutants.
India will enter the 2026 Asian Games as defending champions and will hope this blend of experienced stars, PKL performers and young talent can help them retain the men’s kabaddi gold medal in Aichi-Nagoya.
