“Last season, I finished as the best raider. I thought the bid could go this far, but I didn’t believe it would actually go this high. I was very happy when it did — it feels great to be valued this way,” Devank said on JioHotstar’s Kings of Kabaddi. “This year, I have more responsibilities. Now that I’ve joined this team, I will give 110% for Bengal Warriorz.”
Photo: IANS
From being an underdog at the start of his Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) journey to now stepping into Maninder Singh’s shoes, Bengal Warriorz captain Devank Dalal is set to script a new chapter in Season 12. Bought for a record Rs 2.2 crore, Dalal became the most expensive raider of the season and the face of a new era for the Warriorz.
“Last season, I finished as the best raider. I thought the bid could go this far, but I didn’t believe it would actually go this high. I was very happy when it did — it feels great to be valued this way,” Devank said on JioHotstar’s Kings of Kabaddi. “This year, I have more responsibilities. Now that I’ve joined this team, I will give 110% for Bengal Warriorz.”
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Head coach Naveen Kumar backed the big investment. “We needed a star raider in our team, someone who can lead from the front. He was the best player in the last season of PKL, and that’s why he has such a big value. He deserves it. He can score raid points at will and even win games single-handedly. Devank has immense potential, and I’m confident he will prove it this season.”
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Taking over from stalwart Maninder, Devank knows the challenge ahead. “I have full faith in my abilities. I will give everything to match what Maninder has done for this team and carry forward his legacy. My aim is to make the team believe in me.”
His rise has been built on patience and perseverance. “In Season 9, I joined NYP in Jaipur. At that time, I just wanted to play and prove myself. But there were many senior players, and I didn’t get much of a chance. So, I just kept practising and working hard. Over time, my game improved a lot, and I started believing that I could achieve something. Last year, when Patna Pirates gave me an opportunity, I grabbed it and proved myself.”
The breakthrough came against Tamil Thalaivas, where he went on to score 25 raid points. “That match was very important for me — I scored 25 raid points. It gave me motivation and belief. After that, I found my rhythm. I started aiming to score Super 10s in every game, and it kept happening. The team kept rising, and my name started growing as well. From Jaipur to Patna, and now from Patna to Bengal—it has been an incredible journey. Sometimes I still can’t believe it, but I did it, and it feels really good.”
Now sharpening his game for Season 12, Devank has added fresh weapons.
“Last season, my bonus was strong, but now I’ve added more—like toe touch and hand touch. Playing against Shadloui is exciting; he’s an aggressive defender, and I bring the same aggression in my raids. On the ground, that attitude matters. People notice the way I look, the way I play, and the aggression I bring. But off the mat, I’m soft-spoken like everyone else. Aggression is very important in Kabaddi — you can’t play without it.”
Despite the expectations, he remains unfazed. “There is no pressure on me. My focus is only on improving on last year’s performance. My job is to play and give my best. If I do that, results will follow.”
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