Lokesh Ghosliya: Early Life, Domestic Career, PKL Achievements, Social Media and More
Lokesh Jaisaram Ghosliya is a young kabaddi defender who has made a name for himself in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). Born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, this talented left corner defender has shown that with hard work and dedication, any young player can reach the top level of professional kabaddi. His journey from watching his elder brother play kabaddi to representing U Mumba in PKL is an inspiring story of persistence and family support.
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Lokesh Jaisaram Ghosliya |
| Date of Birth | December 7, 2005 |
| Age | 19 Years (as of 2024) |
| Height | Not Available |
| Weight | Not Available |
| Position | Left Corner Defender |
| PKL Team | U Mumba |
| PKL Debut | Season 11 (2024) |
| Birthplace | Jaipur, Rajasthan |
| Started Playing | 2016 |
Early Life & Family
Lokesh Ghosliya was born on December 7, 2005, in Jaipur, Rajasthan. He comes from a simple farming family background. His father works as a farmer, and the family faced financial challenges during Lokesh’s childhood. However, his elder brother played an important role in introducing him to kabaddi.
Lokesh Ghosliya started his kabaddi journey in 2016 when he was just 11 years old. Initially, he began playing the sport after watching his elder brother participate in local tournaments for fun. The way Lokesh got into kabaddi was quite natural and unplanned. He used to watch his brother play and gradually developed an interest in the sport.
“I used to watch my elder brother play kabaddi for fun. Then, I started going to the stadium regularly and learned the sport,” Lokesh said. This simple beginning would later turn into a professional career that would change his life completely.
However, the journey was not easy for Lokesh Ghosliya. Initially, his family did not support his kabaddi playing activities. After playing for 3-4 months, his family stopped him from continuing with the sport. They were worried about his studies and did not see kabaddi as a career option. The family prevented him from playing for about 6-7 months. During this time, Lokesh Ghosliya focused entirely on his studies as his family wanted.
But Lokesh Ghosliya’s passion for kabaddi was stronger than these obstacles. He resumed playing kabaddi during his school summer vacation. Gradually, his family started supporting him when they saw him compete in district and state-level tournaments. The family realized that Lokesh had real talent and potential in kabaddi.
“Initially, I didn’t get support from my family, and after playing for 3-4 months, they stopped me from continuing. I began playing the sport again during school summer vacation, and my family started supporting me after they saw me compete in district and state-level tournaments,” Lokesh Ghosliya explained.
Domestic Career
Before joining the Pro Kabaddi League, Lokesh Ghosliya worked hard to build his career through domestic tournaments. His most important platform was the Yuva Kabaddi Series (YKS), where he gained valuable experience and improved his skills as a defender.
Lokesh Ghosliya made his Yuva Kabaddi Series debut with Aravalli Arrows during the Summer Edition in 2022. As a 17-year-old player, he earned 81 points from 30 matches during his first season in the Yuva Kabaddi Series. This was an impressive start for a young defender who was still learning the game at the professional level.
The young defender became an integral part of the Aravalli Arrows team and represented the club for four editions. He played in Summer Edition 2022, Monsoon Edition 2022, Winter Edition 2022, and Monsoon Edition 2023. His consistent performance with Aravalli Arrows helped him gain recognition in the kabaddi community.
In 2023, Lokesh also played for the Periyar Panthers in the Summer Edition. This experience with different teams helped him learn various playing styles and adapt to different team strategies. Playing for multiple teams in YKS gave him exposure to different coaching methods and team cultures.
Most recently, Lokesh Ghosliya represented Yuva Mumba in the Yuva All Stars Championship 2025. He finished this tournament with 68 points from 18 matches, showing his continued improvement as a defender. His performance in this championship was particularly important as it connected him to the U Mumba franchise.
Overall, Lokesh Ghosliya has earned 485 points from 144 matches across six editions of the Yuva Kabaddi Series. This impressive record shows his consistency and dedication over multiple years of domestic competition. His success in YKS tournaments became the foundation for his entry into the Pro Kabaddi League.
During the Yuva Kabaddi Series Monsoon Edition 2023, Lokesh was recognized as one of the top performers. He was the center of Aravalli Arrows’ success in that tournament, showing his importance to the team’s defensive strategy.
Lokesh Ghosliya has also represented Rajasthan in junior national competitions. He was selected as a probable player for the Indian Junior Boys Kabaddi Team. This selection shows that his talent has been recognized at the national level, even before his PKL debut.
PKL Journey
Lokesh Ghosliya’s Pro Kabaddi League journey began in Season 11 when U Mumba signed him as a New Young Player. His entry into PKL came after his exceptional performances in the Yuva Kabaddi Series over two years. The U Mumba management had been watching him closely, and they even conducted a camp for him in the previous year.
His PKL debut came in Season 11 (2024) when U Mumba gave him the opportunity to play at the highest level of professional kabaddi. According to the official PKL website, Lokesh played 11 matches in Season 11 with a 40% tackle strike rate. He scored a total of 15 points during his debut season, all from his defensive skills as a left corner defender.
One of Lokesh Ghosliya’s most memorable moments came in his very first PKL match against Dabang Delhi KC. He gave a glimpse of his capabilities by putting in a solid tackle on Ashu Malik from the left corner. This tackle showed that he could handle the pressure of playing against experienced raiders in PKL.youtube
Another standout performance came when Lokesh Ghosliya made his first career tackle against Ashu Malik. The young defender was not in the starting seven initially, but when the coach called him in the second half, he was ready to prove himself. The coach had specifically instructed him to focus on tackles and avoid advanced moves, and Lokesh followed these instructions perfectly.
“The coach told me to make tackles only on bonus points and not to make advanced moves. Their main raider was Ashu Malik, so I tackled him on a bonus point. It felt really good,” Lokesh Ghosliya said about his debut performance.youtube
His tackles have been impressive enough to earn recognition from kabaddi fans and experts. One of his tackles on Devank Dalal was particularly highlighted on social media as an “epic tackle”. These performances show that despite being young, Lokesh can compete with experienced raiders in PKL.
For Season 12, U Mumba has retained Lokesh Ghosliya as an Existing New Young Player. This retention shows the team’s faith in his potential and their plans to develop him further. Being retained by U Mumba gives him the opportunity to continue growing as a professional kabaddi player.
The coaching staff at U Mumba, led by Anil Chaprana and Gholamreza Mazandarani, has been supportive of Lokesh’s development. The team management has shown confidence in his abilities by giving him playing time and helping him adjust to the demands of professional kabaddi.
| Statistics | Value |
| Total No. of Matches | 11 |
| No. Of Super Tackles | 1 |
| High 5s | 0 |
| Total Tackle Points | 15 |
| Average Successful Tackles/Match | 1.27 |
| Total Tackles | 35 |
| Tackle Success Rate % | 40% |
Achievements
Lokesh Ghosliya has achieved several important milestones in his short but promising kabaddi career. His achievements span across domestic tournaments and professional leagues, showing his growth as a defender.
Yuva Kabaddi Series Achievements:
- Made YKS debut with Aravalli Arrows in Summer Edition 2022
- Scored 81 points from 30 matches in his first YKS season
- Represented Aravalli Arrows for four editions (Summer 2022, Monsoon 2022, Winter 2022, Monsoon 2023)
- Played for Periyar Panthers in Summer Edition 2023
- Represented Yuva Mumba in Yuva All Stars Championship 2025
- Overall YKS record: 485 points from 144 matches across six editions
- Recognized as “Most Effective Defender” in one of the tournaments
Pro Kabaddi League Achievements:
- Made PKL debut with U Mumba in Season 11 (2024)
- Played 11 matches with 43% tackle strike rate
- Scored 15 total points in his debut PKL season
- Successfully tackled top raiders like Ashu Malik
- Retained by U Mumba for Season 12 as Existing New Young Player
National Level Recognition:
- Selected as probable player for Indian Junior Boys Kabaddi Team
- Represented Rajasthan in junior national competitions
- Recognition as one of the top young defenders in Indian kabaddi
Personal Milestones:
- Successfully transitioned from domestic to professional kabaddi
- Became the first from his farming family to reach professional sports
- Overcame initial family opposition to pursue kabaddi career
- Achieved his goal of playing in Pro Kabaddi League
Lokesh’s achievements are particularly impressive considering his young age and the fact that he comes from a farming family background. His success in both Yuva Kabaddi Series and Pro Kabaddi League shows his potential to become one of the top defenders in Indian kabaddi.
His retention by U Mumba for Season 12 is also a significant achievement. In a competitive environment where many players are released every season, being retained shows the team’s confidence in his abilities and future potential.
The young defender has set his ultimate goal of playing for the Indian Kabaddi Team. With his current progress and the experience he is gaining in PKL, this goal seems achievable in the coming years.
Social Media
Lokesh Ghosliya has built a strong social media presence that connects him directly with his fans and followers. As a young defender in the Pro Kabaddi League, he uses various social media platforms to share his journey, achievements, and personal moments with his supporters.
Main Account: Lokesh maintains his official Instagram profile under the handle [@lokeshjatghosliya]. His Instagram bio simply shows his name as “Lokesh Kabaddi,” which clearly identifies his sport and profession.
Followers and Engagement: As of August 2025, Lokesh has approximately 2,600 followers on Instagram. He follows 270 accounts and has made 162 posts on the platform. While his follower count may seem modest compared to established PKL stars, it shows steady growth as his career progresses.
Conclusion
Lokesh Ghosliya’s journey from a farmer’s son in Jaipur to a Pro Kabaddi League defender is truly inspiring. His story shows how passion and hard work can overcome initial family opposition and financial challenges. The young defender has proven that age is just a number when it comes to competing at the highest level of professional kabaddi.
His success in the Yuva Kabaddi Series, where he earned 485 points from 144 matches, provided him with the perfect platform to showcase his defensive skills. The experience of playing for different teams like Aravalli Arrows, Periyar Panthers, and Yuva Mumba helped him develop into a well-rounded defender.
Lokesh’s PKL debut with U Mumba in Season 11 marked the beginning of his professional career. His 43% tackle strike rate and ability to tackle experienced raiders like Ashu Malik show his readiness for top-level competition. Being retained by U Mumba for Season 12 confirms that he has a bright future in professional kabaddi.
The young defender’s ultimate goal of representing the Indian Kabaddi Team reflects his ambition and dedication to the sport. With his current trajectory and the guidance he receives at U Mumba, this dream could become reality in the near future.
Lokesh Ghosliya represents the new generation of Indian kabaddi players who are using platforms like Yuva Kabaddi Series to reach professional leagues. His story will surely inspire many other young players from similar backgrounds to pursue their kabaddi dreams with determination and hard work.
