New Delhi: Bhavani Rajput has been spearheading the UP Yoddhas attack in the Pro Kabaddi League season 11 with the franchise already confirming its qualification in the playoffs. On Tuesday, the Sumit Sangwan-led side will play their final league fixture against Bengaluru Bulls at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune.
UP Yoddhas, who made their debut in the PKL 2017 edition, made a customary appearance in the playoffs in each season until 2023-24, which is the last season, after finishing at the 11th spot with just four wins from 22 matches, a dark chapter in the team’s PKL journey was written.
However, the team management has fielded a formidable attack this season comprising Bhavani Rajput, Bharat Hooda, Gagan Gowda, Surender Gill, and Keshav Kumar. But Bhavani has been his own competition this season, taking the mantle to lead the attack without owning the official responsibility.
Bhavani Rajput’s PKL journey: From obscurity to stardom
Bhavani started his PKL journey at Tamil Thalaivas in 2017 but then it was his two-year stint with Jaipur Pink Panthers where he got the spotlight, though he played the second fiddle to star raider Arjun Deshwal there. Coming to PKL 2024, the 29-year-old raider has seen a massive transition after being the face of the team along with Sumit Sangwan and Surinder Gill.
In just 20 matches in this edition, Bhavani has accounted for 135 raid points at an average of 6.75 with an impressive not-out percentage of 83.43. Only Gagan Gowda has a better average (8.12) from the Yoddhas attack with raiders who have attempted a minimum of 30 raids in the season.
This is the first time Bhavani has crossed the 100-point mark and his current numbers are more than double of his best campaign – 65 raid points in 20 matches in PKL 2023-24 for Jaipur. He can target to complete 150 raid points in their last match in a bid to consolidate the Noida-based franchise’s position to third place in the final standings.
The change in environment and giving an open mental space to self have been the key drivers for the massive transformation the Madhya Pradesh player has gone through.
“You have got a new team that means you have got a new opportunity. You would want to perform better here. The reason behind this is that I am free-minded. A player will always explore his skillset when he isn’t cluttered with too many thoughts,” Bhavani told News9 Sports in an exclusive interview during the Noida leg of the PKL 2024.
The Yoddhas raider wasn’t happy with his performance in the initial stage given that the consistency was lacking, but two successive Super 10s against Telugu Titans and Puneri Paltan in front of the home crowd in Noida helped him to find his rhythm.
“I was playing one match good and one match bad. My confidence has boosted a lot after scoring two Super 10s and would like to continue this further as well,” said Bhavani.
Bhavani responds to adversity with gumption
Bhavani faced a lean patch just after he couldn’t live up to the expectations in his first season for the Tamil Thalaivas, managing only three raid points from four matches, and was dropped from the squad. To exacerbate his redemption hopes, the raider didn’t find any buyers for two consecutive seasons.
That was the time when Bhavani changed his training base from Vikram Sports Club in Indore to Star Academy in Jabalpur. At the latter, he went under the tutelage of Mahesh Goud, the first player from Madhya Pradesh to feature in PKL. Mahesh enhanced his training standards with a special focus on strength and expedited raiding. It was the sheer grind behind the doors that earned him back his spot in the PKL as Tamil Thalaivas signed him for the second time in the 2021 PKL season.
Bhavani never imagined in his youth days that he would end up playing a contact-team sport like Kabaddi as he aspired to become a cricketer, playing the sport in his leisure period, but then financial strains curtailed the dreams.
He moved from Harda district to Indore to pursue a B.E. from Truba College of Engineering & Technology. During the second year of his graduation in 2016, his friend Yash, impressed by his height, asked him to join the Kabaddi club in the college. Bhavani initially didn’t pay heed to his friend’s suggestion, but things galloped once he showed interest as he would play regularly in college tournaments.
“In 2016, they told me to join, telling me that you have got a good height and it can benefit us as well. My actual journey in Kabaddi started in 2016,” Bhavani recalled.
Within a year, the Harda-born player landed a PKL contract before coming through the hard yards to match the mental toughness of the game along with the suitable skillset. In the PKL 2024, Bhavani was sold to UP Yoddhas for a sizeable sum of INR 45 lakh and gained much-needed financial independence.
“Financially it (PKL) has helped me a lot. In engineering field, I would have had to go and work at a particular location. Here this sport gave me fame and money which are the two important things I got here,” he said.
During the off-season, the player continues to train at the Star Academy in Jabalpur, where many of the youngsters look up to him as a role model.
“From our academy, a couple of kids got into PKL last season and they practiced with me and were then picked by Haryana Steelers. They had that mindset that we are playing with PKL players and we can also do it,” the UP Yoddhas player said.
A well-kept secret from family
Bhavani revealed that his family weren’t in the loop about him pursuing kabaddi as a career, but once they learned about it, there was no objection to it given that he proved his mettle.
“When I started playing Kabaddi, nobody in my house was aware of it. They were under the impression that I am only pursuing engineering. They would be back in the village. And in Indore, I would go to the club after my college hours. Only when I got selected in the new young talent (category) then I informed about it to my family and told them I am into this,” he said.
“They encouraged me to pursue it and never had any opposition. The place I used to go to coaching was free of cost and there was no charge.”
All eyes on the title
Bharat Hooda believes that his teammate Bhavani’s strength is in the back-kick, but the player considered the running hand touch technique to be his biggest weapon to plunder points. Bhavani has two goals from here onwards. The first is to assist UP Yoddhas to their maiden PKL title triumph and then to come under the radar of national selectors.
“The target is to make UP Yoddhas the winner because they haven’t been the winner so far. If you will perform exceptionally then there is a chance to get into PKL. If I am there in the top raiders’ list then only I can be considered in the Indian team,” Bhavani signed off.
Bhavani Rajput, a key raider for UP Yoddhas in Pro Kabaddi League season 11, has significantly improved his performance this year, exceeding 100 raid points for the first time. His success is attributed to a change in environment and a more relaxed mental approach. Kabaddi Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
