Bengal Warriors Strategize for PKL 2024 with Young Talent Retention

Bengal Warriors coach Prashant Surve reveals team strategies for the Pro Kabaddi League 2024 season, focusing on young talent retention and lessons from past seasons to compete at the top. With 88 players retained across various categories, the Warriors aim for a strong performance in the upcoming season.

In anticipation of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2024 season, Bengal Warriors head coach Prashant Surve outlined the team's strategies and objectives at a media event on Wednesday. Surve emphasized the importance of retaining key young talents and learning from previous seasons, with ambitions to secure the top spot in the league.

A total of 88 players were retained across three categories: 22 in the Elite Retained Players (ERP) category, 26 in the Retained Young Players (RYP) category, and 40 in the Existing New Young Players (ENYP) category. High-profile players like Pawan Sehrawat, Pardeep Narwal, Maninder Singh, Fazel Atrachali, and Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh, who were not retained, will be available for the PKL Season 11 Player Auction scheduled in Mumbai on August 15-16, 2024. Surve underscored the retention of promising young talent as key to improving the team's performance in the forthcoming season.

"Each season presents its own challenges. While there were times the outcomes weren't in our favor, we also had standout players who excelled. We aim to build a trophy-winning squad by retaining and nurturing top young players who have learned from their previous mistakes," Surve told ANI. He also discussed their targeted players for the new season.

"We have a specific list of players we intend to bring into the team. Each chosen player will align with our strategic mindset to help us achieve our season goals," the head coach added. Surve expressed gratitude for the support from Capri Sports.

"I am grateful to Capri Sports for entrusting me and my coaching team with this opportunity. Having worked closely with many of the New Young Players at Bengal Warriors, I am confident that together we can build a championship-worthy team," Surve concluded. Surve, who has been with the Warriors since PKL Season 9 as an Assistant Coach, now steps up as head coach, succeeding veteran K Bhaskaran. He will collaborate with former kabaddi player Praveen Yadav, a newcomer to the PKL, to develop a robust squad.

The Kolkata-based franchise, which clinched the PKL title in 2019 (Season 7), has made the Playoffs four times over the past decade. Although finishing 7th in Season 10 and missing the Playoffs, the Warriors remained in contention until the final rounds.

(With inputs from agencies.)