The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India has handed the captaincy of the Indian men’s kabaddi team to veteran defender Sunil Kumar for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The decision means Pawan Sehrawat, who led India to gold at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, will continue in the squad but will no longer wear the captain’s armband. The move has raised an obvious question among fans: why Sunil Kumar is India captain instead of the country’s most recognised raider?
The decision appears to be based on tactical balance, leadership experience and the changing role of Pawan Sehrawat. Sunil brings years of captaincy experience and provides India with a leader who can remain on the mat for most of the game.
Sunil Kumar’s Leadership Plan Returns
One major reason behind the Sunil Kumar India kabaddi captain decision is the federation’s earlier leadership plan. Sunil was originally named India’s captain for the 2023 Asian Kabaddi Championship in Busan, South Korea. However, visa-related travel delays prevented him from reaching the tournament on time.
Pawan, who was the vice-captain, stepped up and led the team in Sunil’s absence. He later continued as captain at the Hangzhou Asian Games, where India won the gold medal. Giving Sunil the captaincy for 2026 therefore brings the federation’s original leadership plan back into place.
Sunil Has a Strong PKL Captaincy Record
Sunil Kumar also has an impressive record as a captain in the Pro Kabaddi League. He holds the record for the most matches won as captain in PKL history, with more than 87 victories.
He has led Gujarat Fortune giants to back to back PKL finals and also captained Jaipur Pink Panthers to the Season 9 championship. His experience of managing different teams and dealing with pressure situations makes him a natural leadership option for a major tournament.
Why a Defender Can Be a Better Captain
Another important factor is Sunil’s position on the kabaddi mat. As a right cover defender, he can usually remain involved throughout the game and communicate with his teammates from the backline.
A raider can be forced off the mat after being tackled, which means a raider captain may sometimes be unavailable during crucial phases. Sunil’s position allows him to provide continuous leadership, organise defensive combinations and help control the pace of the match.
This could become particularly important against strong opponents such as Iran and Pakistan, where small tactical decisions can decide the result.
Pawan Sehrawat’s Role Has Changed
The Pawan Sehrawat Asian Games 2026 role is expected to be different from his previous campaign. Pawan remains an important member of India’s 12 player squad, but he has been selected as an all rounder rather than the team’s captain.
India now has several dangerous attacking options, including Ayan Lohchab, Devank Dalal, Arjun Deshwal and Ashu Malik. This means Pawan is no longer expected to carry the entire attacking responsibility. Removing the captaincy could allow him to concentrate more fully on scoring points and contributing when needed in defence.
Pawan has also experienced some difficult moments during the recent domestic cycle, including a mid-season release from Tamil Thalaivas following reported disciplinary and management issues. Giving him freedom from captaincy responsibilities could help him focus entirely on his performances.
India’s Asian Games Leadership Combination
The decision does not reduce Pawan’s importance to the team. Instead, India appears to be creating a leadership structure where Sunil controls the team’s tactical organisation while Pawan focuses on his match winning ability.
With Sunil as captain and Pawan as an experienced all rounder, India will hope to defend its Asian Games gold medal in Aichi Nagoya. The combination of Sunil’s defensive leadership and Pawan’s attacking experience could prove crucial as India targets another title.
