Amirmohammad Zafardanesh: Early Life, Domestic Career, PKL Achievements, Social Media and More
Amirmohammad Zafardanesh has grown from a young kabaddi player in Iran to a key all-rounder for U Mumba in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), known for his balanced raid and tackle skills. Zafardanesh was brought to PKL by then Iran’s national team head coach Gholamreza Mazandarani and soon he made a name in the world of Kabaddi.
| Details | Information |
| Full Name | Amirmohammad Zafardanesh |
| Birthplace | Iran |
| Nationality | Iranian |
| Position | All Rounder |
| PKL Debut | Season 10 (2023) for U Mumba |
| Total PKL Seasons | 2 seasons (Season 10–11) |
| Teams Played For | U Mumba |
| Current Team (PKL 12) | U Mumba (retained as Elite player) |
| Country Represented | Iran |
| Asian Games 2023 | Silver Medal with Iran National Team |
| World Youth Championship | Silver Medal (2023) |
Early Life & Family
Amirmohammad Zafardanesh was born in 2004 in Sistan and Balochistan, Iran. He grew up in a region where kabaddi is popular at school and local tournaments. His family supported his interest in sport from an early age, and he joined local kabaddi clubs as a teenager.
Amirmohammad Zafardanesh’s first taste of senior-level play came when he was selected for Iran’s national team in 2023. With his family cheering him on, he helped Iran win a Silver Medal at the Asian Games 2023 and another Silver at the World Youth Championship the same year. Those achievements showed his ability to compete at the highest level before his Pro Kabaddi debut.
Domestic Career
Before joining the PKL, Amirmohammad Zafardanesh played domestic kabaddi in Iran’s national circuit. He featured in regional tournaments for his province, earning praise for his quick reflexes and lean build that suited both raiding and defending. His consistent performance in Iran’s senior team trials led to his selection for international events.
In early 2023, after winning medals for Iran, he attracted interest from PKL scouts. U Mumba secured him at the Season 10 auction for ₹68 lakh, making him one of the highest-paid overseas newcomers that year.
PKL Journey
Amirmohammad Zafardanesh’s PKL journey started in PKL season 10. He was bought by then head coach of U Mumba, Gholamreza Mazandarani, who also hails from Iran. Although Gholamreza and Zafardanesh had a common Iran connection, Zafar not just impressed his coach but also his teammates and Indian Kabaddi fans too. He made it look easy to score points against tight defence with his quick and swirl moves.
Amirmohammad Zafardanesh was not just a raider, he was a complete all-rounder. He actively participated in defence and stopped opponents from scoring a bonus point. In his debut season, he scored 7 tackle points but in PKL 11 he scored 23 tackle points including one super tackle.
Season 10 (2023) – U Mumba
- Debut match: 12 points (11 raid, 1 tackle) against UP Yoddha.
- Key performance: 13 points vs Patna Pirates at Pune, including 13 raid points.
- Total matches: 21
- Total points: 148 (141 raid, 7 tackle)
- Raid strike rate: 51%
- Tackle strike rate: 23%
- Super Raids: 0
- Super Tackles: 0
- High 5s: 0
These stats show Amir’s strong start, especially his raid skills in his first PKL season. He balanced his all-rounder duties by adding occasional tackle contributions.
Season 11 (2024) – U Mumba
- Matches Played: 21
- Total Points: 88
- Raid Points per Match: 3.09
- Total Raids: 168 (65 raid points)
- Successful Raids: 38.69%
- Super Raids: 1
- Total Tackle Points: 23
- Super Tackles: 1
- High 5s: 0
- Tackle Success Rate: 47%
In Season 11, Amir maintained his all-round role. His tackle success rate rose, showing growth in defence, while his raids remained a key part of U Mumba’s attack.
| Statistic | Value |
| Total Matches Played | 41 |
| Total Points Earned | 236 |
| Raid Points Per Match | 5.02 |
| Not Out % | 72.29% |
| Total Raids | 444 |
| Successful Raids % | 46.39% |
| No. Of Super Raids | 4 |
| Super 10s | 6 |
| Total Raids Points | 206 |
| Average Raid Points/Match | 5.02 |
| No. Of Super Tackles | 1 |
| High 5s | 0 |
| Total Tackle Points | 30 |
| Average Successful Tackles/Match | 0.7 |
| Total Tackles | 78 |
| Tackle Success Rate % | 37% |
Achievements
- PKL Auction Spotlight: Highest-paid overseas player on Day 2 of Season 10 auction at ₹68 lakh.
- Asian Games Silver: Part of Iran’s squad that won Silver at Hangzhou 2023.
- World Youth Championship Silver: Silver Medal at 2023 World Youth Championship.
- Debut Impact: Top-scored 12 points in his first PKL match.
- Key Performances: 13-point match vs Patna Pirates in Season 10.
Conclusion
Amirmohammad Zafardanesh’s journey from Iran to Mumbai’s U Mumba shows his talent and hard work. He won Silver medals for Iran in 2023, then made a splash in PKL with eye-catching raid and tackle performances. As a young all-rounder retained by U Mumba for Season 12, Amir is set to build on his early successes and inspire more players from Iran and beyond.
