More than 20 Indian kabaddi players have been confirmed to make their Australian debut, for the Pro Kabaddi League Melbourne Raid at John Cain Arena on December 28.
The Australian-first spectacle will feature two exciting matchups: PKL All Star Mavericks vs PKL All Star Masters, as well as a combination of both Indian teams taking on the Aussie Raiders – a team made up of former AFL stars.
The PKL All Star Mavericks will be captained by Ajay Thakur, one of the sport’s biggest names. Joined by a roster of world-class raiders, the team also includes Pardeep Narwal, Deepak Hooda, and Rakesh Kumar, alongside elite defenders like Nitesh Kumar and Nitin Rawal.
The squad will be guided by Coach E. Bhaskaran, a seasoned leader of the sport with a proven track record of success in previous PKL seasons.
Leading the PKL All Star Masters is Anup Kumar, a Kabaddi legend and former national team leader. Kumar will be joined by experienced players including Rakesh Kumar, Sukesh Hedge, and Maninder Singh, all of whom bring years of experience in the Pro Kabaddi League. Defensive strength will be provided by Jeeva and Sandeep Narwal, with B.C. Ramesh guiding the team from the sidelines.
The Aussie Raiders is led by two AFL Premiership stars in Campbell Brown (coach) and Josh Kennedy (captain), joined by Dan Hannebery, Marc Murphy, Michael Hibberd, Dyson Heppell, Brett Deledio, Trent McKenzie, Liam Shiels and Billy Gowers.
Known for their speed, agility, and fierce competitiveness on the AFL field, these athletes are ready to bring their elite athleticism to the Kabaddi mat.
The Pro Kabaddi League Melbourne Raid will take place after stumps on day three of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India at the MCG, offering spectators the rare chance to experience two major international events in one day in the same sporting precinct.
Full Team Line-ups:
PKL All Star Mavericks
- Coach: E. Bhaskaran
- Captain: Ajay Thakur (Raider)
- Deepak Hooda (Raider)
- Aadesh (Raider)
- Rakesh (Raider)
- Pardeep Narwal (Raider)
- Nitin Rawal (Left corner + Raider)
- Aditya Powar (Left Corner)
- Nitesh Kumar (Right Corner)
- Mayur Kadam (Right Cover)
- Priyank Chandel (Left Cover)
- Nitin (Left Corner)
- Sachin (Raider)
PKL All Star Masters
- Coach: B.C. Ramesh
- Captain: Anup Kumar (Raider)
- Rakesh Kumar (Raider)
- Sukesh Hegde (Raider)
- Jai Bhagwan (Raider)
- Maninder Singh (Raider)
- Jeeva Kumar (Left Cover)
- Sandeep Narwal (Right Cover)
- Vishal Bhardwaj (Left Corner)
- Saurabh Nandal (Right Corner)
- Mohit (Right Cover)
- Ran Singh (Right/Left Corner)
- Nitesh (Left Corner)
Aussie Raiders
- Coach: Campbell Brown
- Captain: Josh Kennedy
- Dan Hannebery
- Marc Murphy
- Michael Hibberd
- Dyson Heppell
- Brett Deledio
- Trent McKenzie
- Billy Gowers
- Liam Shiels
Tickets for the Pro Kabaddi Melbourne Raid are now on sale. For more information visit https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/kabaddi
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