Gagan Gowda Biography: Early Life, Family, Domestic Career, PKL Journey, Achievements, Social Media and More
Gagan Gowda is a dynamic right-raider for the UP Yoddhas in the Pro Kabaddi League, known for his swift dashes and reliable touches. Since making his debut in Season 10 (2023–24), he has grown into a key attacker, racking up 146 raid points in just 18 appearances during Season 11 with an impressive 70% raid strike rate and a 78.36% “not out” rate. Boasting seven Super 10s and seven Super Raids last season.
| Category | Details |
| Name | Gagan Raju Gowda |
| Position | Right Raider |
| Nationality | Indian |
| PKL Team | UP Yoddhas |
| PKL Seasons Played | 2023-24 (Season 10), 2024 (Season 11) |
Early Life & Family
Gagan Gowda was born and raised in India. Official profiles list only his nationality, not his city or state. He has not shared details about his parents or siblings in public records. As a child, he played kabaddi in school and local matches. Over time, coaches saw his talent in raids and guided him to improve his speed and technique. His family supported him quietly, helping him attend practice sessions and local camps. Even though exact facts are not public, Gagan’s rise came from hard work, steady drills, and family backing.
Domestic Career
Before joining the Pro Kabaddi League, Gagan Gowda took part in state-level tournaments and zonal events. He played for local teams in inter-district meets, where he learned to plan his raids and built strong fitness. In senior state championships, he often topped the raid charts with steady runs and quick touches. These early wins showed his promise, and scouts from the PKL noticed his name before the Season 10 auction. His work in local circuits laid the base for his professional journey.
Before joining the Pro Kabaddi League, Gagan Gowda made his mark in the Yuva Kabaddi Series and various state-level tournaments. He hails from Mangalore and began playing kabaddi at the age of 13, when he first discovered his passion for raiding. In the Yuva Kabaddi Series, Gagan Gowda stood out as a promising right raider who combined speed with smart footing. He looked up to veteran raider Ajay Thakur and modeled his technique on Thakur’s well-timed dashes and body control.
PKL Journey
Gagan Gowda entered the Pro Kabaddi League in Season 10 (2023–24) when UP Yoddhas picked him at the auction. Since then, he has grown into a key raider for the team.
Season 10 (2023–24)
- Team: UP Yoddhas
- Matches: 13
- Total Points: 92 Raid Points
- Key Role: Raider
In his debut season, Gagan focused on fitting into the team’s raids. He worked on his body balance, footwork, and timing. Coaches asked him to watch videos of top raiders to learn new moves. Thanks to steady practice, he earned game time and gained match sense.
Season 11 (2024)
- Team: UP Yoddhas
- Matches Played: 18 matches
- Total Points: 146 points
- Raid Strike Rate: 70%
- Tackle Strike Rate: 14%
- Super 10s: 7 Super 10s
- Super Raids: 7 Super Raids
- Average Raid Points per Match: 8.05
- Not Out Percentage: 78.36%
In Season 11, Gagan showed clear growth. Early on, he got steady runs, linking raids with team leaders. Mid-season, he scored two Super 10s back to back. In one match, he made seven super raids, which helped his team win tight contests. By the end, he ranked among the top 12 raiders for total points in the league.
Gagan’s style includes quick dashes, chain raids, and safe touches to stay “not out.” His high not-out rate of 78.36% shows his choice of safe moves when needed.
Season 12 (2025)
Gagan Gowda delivered an exceptional raiding performance for UP Yoddhas in Pro Kabaddi League Season 12, establishing himself as a crucial offensive weapon for the franchise. Playing across 18 matches, the raider attempted 195 raids throughout the season, averaging 10.83 raid attempts per match. This high frequency of raiding activities demonstrated the franchise’s confidence in deploying Gowda as a primary attacking option and his willingness to carry offensive responsibilities during crucial moments.
The raider’s success rate painted a compelling picture of his raiding efficiency. With a 66.66% successful raid conversion rate, Gagan Gowda successfully executed approximately 130 raids out of his 195 attempts, translating these conversions into 130 raid points for UP Yoddhas. His consistent ability to complete raids at this rate reflected strong positional awareness, tactical understanding of defensive setups, and reliable raiding techniques that allowed him to penetrate defensive formations with regularity. The 7.22 average raid points per match demonstrated his steady offensive contributions throughout the season, making him a dependable scorer for his team.
Beyond his baseline raiding performance, Gowda delivered high-impact plays that proved decisive in match situations. He recorded six super raids during the season, moments where his raiding prowess allowed him to score bonus points while maintaining possession for his team. Equally impressive was his achievement of six super 10s, a milestone that highlighted his ability to accumulate 10 or more raid points in individual matches. Combined, these 12 bonus contributions represented critical occasions when Gowda’s aggressive raiding approach delivered exceptional returns for UP Yoddhas, influencing match outcomes through his individual performances.
His average of 0.67 points per raid attempt indicated efficient conversion of raiding opportunities into scoring sequences. While 65 of his raids went unsuccessful across the season, the ratio of successful to unsuccessful raids demonstrated that Gowda maintained tactical discipline while attempting multiple raids per match. This balance between aggression and execution suggested a raider who understood when to take calculated risks and when to execute conventional raiding patterns.
Gagan Gowda’s PKL 12 season positioned him as a standout performer in UP Yoddhas’ offensive strategy. His combination of high raid frequency, strong success rate, and multiple bonus-point achievements made him one of the team’s primary scoring sources. The franchise clearly relied on his ability to generate points consistently, reflected in his participation across all 18 matches. His overall performance suggested a raider operating at peak efficiency, capable of shouldering substantial offensive burden while maintaining the success rate necessary to support his team’s competitive efforts throughout the season.
- Total Raids- 195
- Successful Raids- 66.66%
- No. Of Super Raids- 6
- Super 10s- 6
- Total Raid Points- 130
- Average Raid Points/Match- 7.22
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Total No. of Matches | 49 |
| Total Raids | 563 |
| Successful Raids % | 65.18% |
| No. of Super Raids | 17 |
| Super 10s | 16 |
| Total Raid Points | 367 |
| Average Raid Points/Match | 7.48 |
Achievements
Gagan Gowda has earned praise through key stats and awards:
- 146 Points in Season 11 places him among the league’s top raiders.
- 7 Super 10s in Season 11 shows his ability to deliver high-impact performances.
- 7 Super Raids in Season 11 ties him with the best in the league for single-match game-changers.
- 78.36% Not Out Rate highlights his safe play and match-saving touches.
- In Top 12 Raiders by total points across all teams in Season 11.
These milestones reflect his steady rise and growing value for UP Yoddhas.
Conclusion
Gagan Gowda has come a long way from school-level games to starring as a right raider in the Pro Kabaddi League. With 146 points, a 70% raid strike rate, and seven Super 10s in Season 11, he stands out as a reliable performer. His family support, steady domestic career, and two seasons in the PKL show a clear path of growth. As he hones his dash moves and builds on his high not-out rate, Gagan Gowda will remain a key name for UP Yoddhas and a raider to watch in future seasons.
