Ravi Bhati: Early Life, Domestic Career, PKL Achievements, Social Media and More

Ravi Bhati represents the true spirit of kabaddi with his inspiring journey from facing rejection by his state team to making his mark in the prestigious Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). This young defender from Greater Noida has shown that dedication and hard work can overcome any obstacle in sports.

Category	Details
Full Name	Ravi Shivraj Bhati
Age	23 years
Position	Defender (Right Cover/Right Corner)
Team	UP Yoddhas (Season 11), U Mumba (Season 12)
Birthplace	Village in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh
PKL Debut	Season 11 (2024)
Instagram Handle	@ravi_bhati_28

Early Life & Family

Ravi Bhati was born and raised in a village in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. At 23 years old, Ravi became the first player from his town to pursue kabaddi professionally. Coming from a modest family background, Ravi’s journey into kabaddi was not easy initially.

His family did not support his desire to play kabaddi at the beginning. His parents wanted him to focus completely on his studies instead of sports. However, Ravi’s passion for kabaddi was so strong that he worked hard to convince his parents. He explained to them that his true passion lay in kabaddi and he could not dedicate much time to studying. After extensive discussions, his family finally agreed to support his sporting dreams.

Despite his parents’ initial reluctance, Ravi Bhati was very respectful of their wishes. He never missed school or skipped classes to play kabaddi, as he never wanted to upset his parents who had finally agreed to support his passion for the sport. Ravi aimed to continue his studies while also building a career in kabaddi. 

However, the young player would spend every Sunday playing kabaddi all day, from early morning until around 10 pm at night. His mother would often scold him for being outside the house all Sunday and returning only late at night.

Domestic Career

Ravi Bhati began his kabaddi journey in 2019 at JD Academy under the guidance of Coach Jitendra Nagar. This marked the beginning of his structured training in the sport that would eventually lead him to professional leagues.

His domestic career gained momentum when he started participating in the Yuva Kabaddi Series. Ravi played his first match in the Yuva Kabaddi Series for Panchala Pride during the Summer Edition in 2022. In his debut season, he finished with 22 points from seven matches. When asked about his experience of playing in the YKS for the first time, Ravi said, “When I came to the Yuva Kabaddi for the first time, I felt a bit hesitant to play under lights and camera”.

After his initial success, Ravi Bhati continued to improve his game. He was part of Vijayanagara Veers in Monsoon Edition 2022 before joining the Periyar Panthers for Winter Edition 2022 and Monsoon Edition 2023. His performances in these tournaments helped him gain recognition among coaches and scouts.

In the recently concluded Yuva All Stars Championship 2025 in Haridwar, Ravi plied his trade for Yuva Yoddhas and finished the season with 74 tackle points from 21 matches. This performance showcased his defensive skills and consistency as a player.

However, Ravi’s journey was not without setbacks. The Uttar Pradesh-born player went through a rough patch when he was not selected for the state team competing at the Senior Nationals. He shared his disappointment, saying, “I was performing very well and was hoping to get selected for the nationals but when I didn’t see my name on the list, I felt very sad and lost hope”. This rejection could have ended his career, but Ravi used it as motivation to work even harder.

PKL Journey

Ravi Bhati’s dream of playing in the Pro Kabaddi League finally came true when he was selected by UP Yoddhas for Season 11 in 2024. This was a significant achievement for someone who had faced rejection at the state level earlier in his career.

The Yuva Kabaddi Series played a crucial role in Ravi’s selection for PKL. He acknowledged this, saying, “Yuva Kabaddi played a big role in helping me get selected for the Pro Kabaddi League. I remember coaches from multiple teams used to come and watch me and other players play in the Yuva Kabaddi Series”.

For Season 12, Ravi Bhati was picked up by U Mumba for INR 13 lacs, showing that teams still see potential in this young defender. This move to U Mumba represents a new opportunity for Ravi to establish himself in the league.

Season	Team	Matches	Raid Points	Tackle Points	Total Points
Season 11 (2024)	UP Yoddhas	1	0	0	0
Overall Stats	–	1	0	0	0

Achievements

Despite being early in his professional career, Ravi Bhati has several notable achievements:

Youth Career Achievements:

• First player from his village in Greater Noida to play professional kabaddi
• Scored 22 points in 7 matches during his debut Yuva Kabaddi Series season with Panchala Pride (Summer Edition 2022)
• Recorded 74 tackle points from 21 matches in Yuva All Stars Championship 2025
• Successfully progressed from multiple teams in Yuva Kabaddi Series including Vijayanagara Veers and Periyar Panthers

Professional Achievements:

• Selected for Pro Kabaddi League Season 11 by UP Yoddhas
• Made his PKL debut in 2024
• Signed by U Mumba for Season 12 for INR 13 lacs
• Overcame state team rejection to reach professional kabaddi

Social Media and More

Ravi Bhati maintains a presence on social media, especially on Instagram, where he connects with kabaddi fans and shares glimpses of his professional and personal life. His Instagram handle is @ravi_bhati_28. Although his follower count is modest, with around 1.9K followers, Ravi actively posts photos and videos related to his training sessions, match moments, and motivational messages.

Conclusion

Ravi Bhati’s journey from a village in Greater Noida to the Pro Kabaddi League is a story of determination and hard work. At just 23 years old, he has already overcome significant challenges including family opposition and state team rejection. His progression through the Yuva Kabaddi Series system shows the importance of grassroots tournaments in developing talent.

The young defender’s journey continues, and kabaddi fans will be watching closely to see how he develops his game in the coming seasons. His dedication to the sport, combined with his ability to bounce back from setbacks, suggests that Ravi Bhati has the mental strength needed to succeed at the highest level of kabaddi.