Sahul Kumar Biography: Early Life, Domestic Career, PKL Achievements, Social Media and More
Sahul Kumar is a right-corner defender from Taharpur Bhabisa, Uttar Pradesh, known for his sharp tackles and key defensive contributions in the Pro Kabaddi League. Rising from a sports-loving household, he honed his skills through local clubs and state championships before becoming a regular defender for Jaipur Pink Panthers and UP Yoddhas.
| Personal Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Sahul Kumar |
| Date of Birth | 19 May 2001 |
| Birthplace | Taharpur Bhabisa, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Family | Sports-inclined family; father supported his training |
| Education | Completed schooling; focused on kabaddi training early |
| Position | Defender (Right Corner) |
| PKL Teams | Jaipur Pink Panthers; UP Yoddhas |
| Domestic Team | Uttar Pradesh (Senior Nationals) |
| PKL Debut | Season 8 (2021) |
Early Life & Family
Born into a farming family in Aharpur Bhabisa, Sahul Kumar’s father, Rishi Pal Singh, worked as an agriculturist, while his mother, Kavita Devi, managed the household. Growing up amid fields and village life, Sahul Kumar balanced chores with education. His family encouraged both studies and sports, recognizing his athletic build and agility from a young age.
At school, Sahul Kumar’s agility and strength caught the attention of local coaches. Though initially more inclined towards academic pursuits, he often joined neighborhood kabaddi matches. Supported by his parents, he honed his fitness through daily drills and informal games, laying the foundation for his future career.
Domestic Career
Sahul Kumar represented Uttar Pradesh in the Senior National Kabaddi Championships, facing top raiders from across India. His consistent defensive displays, recording multiple High-5s at state level, earned him selection into elite state camps. Under seasoned coaches, he refined corner-hold techniques, ankle-holds, and chain tackles, contributing to Uttar Pradesh reaching advanced stages in national competitions.
His performances in domestic tournaments, including the 69th Senior Nationals in 2022, showcased his growing maturity as a defender and paved the way for his PKL draft selection.
PKL Journey
Season 8 (2021) – Jaipur Pink Panthers
- Debut season after being bought at the 2021 auction.
- Played 20 matches, amassing 43 tackle points with a 32% tackle strike rate.
- Registered his first High-5 of his career, marking him as a defender to watch.
Season 9 (2022) – Jaipur Pink Panthers
- Featured in 24 matches, finishing with 56 tackle points, ranking among top defenders of the season.
- Semifinal Heroics: Scored 10 tackle points in the semifinal against Bengaluru Bulls, single-handedly dismantling their raider lineup and propelling Jaipur to the final.
- Averaged over 2 tackle points per match, demonstrating both consistency and impact.
Season 10 (2023/24) – Jaipur Pink Panthers
- Played 26 matches, contributing 39 tackle points.
- Notched multiple Super Tackles and achieved several High-5s, underscoring his knack for game-changing defensive moments.
- His disciplined positioning and swift reflexes made him a cornerstone of Jaipur’s defensive unit.
Season 11 (2024) – UP Yoddhas
- Joined UP Yoddhas, featuring in 20 matches with 13 total points, including 8% raid strike and 32% tackle strike rates.
- Transitioned smoothly into his new team, providing stability in the right corner and supporting younger defenders.
Season 12 (2025) – UP Yoddhas
Sahul Kumar had a difficult season in Pro Kabaddi League 12, appearing in just 8 matches for his team. As a defender, his role was to stop raiders from scoring and to create opportunities for his team to gain control on the mat. However, his time on the field was limited, and the numbers from his matches tell the story of a player who faced tough challenges during his playing time.
In the 8 games he played, Sahul Kumar attempted a total of 12 tackles. This means he averaged about 1.5 tackles per match, which shows he was not getting a huge number of opportunities to make defensive plays. More concerning for Sahul Kumar was his tackle success rate. Out of those 12 tackle attempts, he managed to bring down only 3 raiders successfully, giving him a success rate of just 25%. This means that 75% of his tackles did not result in stopping the raider or earning points.
Looking at his scoring output, Sahul Kumar earned only 3 tackle points across his 8 matches, which comes out to an average of 0.38 points per game. This extremely low point total reflects both his limited tackles and his low success rate. However, because he only had 3 successful tackles total for the season, his overall contribution in terms of points was very limited.
Another thing that stands out is what Sahul Kumar did not achieve during his time on the mat. He recorded zero super tackles and zero high-5s across all 8 matches. The absence of these highlight plays is not surprising given his limited playing time and low tackle success rate. For Sahul Kumar, neither of those conditions seemed to be in place during the season.
The broader picture of Sahul Kumar’s PKL 12 season is one of struggle and limited impact. With only 8 matches played, he did not get an extended opportunity to prove himself at the league level. When he did get time on the mat, his 25% success rate was well below what defenders need to be effective in stopping raiders. The combination of limited playing time, low tackle attempts, and poor success rate resulted in very few points contributed to his team.
| Season | Team | Matches Played | Tackle Points |
| Season 8 | Jaipur Pink Panthers | 20 | 45 |
| Season 9 | Jaipur Pink Panthers | 24 | 56 |
| Season 10 | Jaipur Pink Panthers | 26 | 39 |
| Season 11 | UP Yoddhas | 20 | 13 |
| Season 12 | UP Yoddhas | 8 | 3 |
Overall PKL Stats
Here’s the data presented in a table format:
| Stats | Value |
|---|---|
| Total No. of Matches | 91 |
| No. of Super Tackles | 10 |
| High 5s | 6 |
| Total Tackle Points | 155 |
| Average Successful Tackles/Match | 1.59 |
| Total Tackles | 366 |
| Tackle Success Rate % | 40% |
Achievements
- PKL 9 Semifinal Hero: His 10 tackle-point display is celebrated as one of the greatest defensive performances in playoff history.
- High-5s & Super Tackles: Multiple across Seasons 9 and 10, highlighting his impact under pressure.
- Domestic Success: Key defender for Uttar Pradesh in Senior Nationals, helping the team advance to final stages regularly.
- Drafted & Retained: Retained by Jaipur Pink Panthers for three consecutive seasons reflects teams’ trust in his abilities.
Indian Kabaddi Team Journey
As of 2025, Sahul Kumar has not yet debuted for the senior Indian national kabaddi team. However, his playoff heroics and steady PKL output have placed him on the national selectors’ radar. Continued high-pressure performances in PKL could earn him a call-up to represent India internationally.
Social Media and More
On Instagram (@sahul_kumar_6), Sahul shares match highlights, training snippets, and glimpses of his personal life, connecting with over 8.4K followers. Off the mat, he enjoys fitness challenges, mentoring young players in his hometown, and spending time with family.
Conclusion
From village fields in Uttar Pradesh to the grand stages of Pro Kabaddi League, Sahul Kumar’s trajectory exemplifies hard work and steady growth. His defensive mastery, punctuated by semifinal heroics and consistent tackle rates, has cemented his reputation as a reliable right-corner defender. As he continues with UP Yoddhas and eyes national selection, Sahul Kumar remains a defender to watch, inspiring many aspiring kabaddi players across India.
