PKL 2025: Coaches Ramesh, Thakur, and Manpreet Chart Roadmap for Season 12

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As the countdown to Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 begins, the spotlight is firmly on the minds behind the mat - the head coaches.

Three stalwarts, BC Ramesh (Bengaluru Bulls), Ajay Thakur (Puneri Paltan) and Manpreet Singh (Haryana Steelers), have offered a look into their tactical blueprints, player plans and season expectations while speaking exclusively at the PKL pre-season Media Day with JioStar.

BC Ramesh: “Defence Will Be Our Strongest Weapon”

The Bengaluru Bulls head coach, BC Ramesh, has built his team around a formidable defence unit. The most eye-catching move was the acquisition of right corner Yogesh Dahiya for INR 1.125 crore, making him the most expensive Indian defender in PKL history.

“We have formed a good team, especially with a very strong defence unit. Yogesh Dahiya, Ankush Rathee, and Sanjay Dhull give us great balance,” said Ramesh while speaking exclusively at the PKL pre-season Media Day with JioStar.

Yogesh, who has scored 149 tackle points in 45 matches, will be joined by left corner Ankush Rathee, the Best Defender of Season 9, and the dependable Sanjay Dhull. Young players like Deepak S, Lucky Kumar, and Shubham Rahate add depth across the cover positions. “Our young raiders have the ability to win games, but our defensive unit will be our biggest strength in the season,” Ramesh added.

"The raiders, like Naveen Kumar, Mohit Aslam, and many more, Pawan, Pradeep Narwal, they all came from the NYP. They came and proved what they are, how they are. Akash Shinde, I needed a left raider. Right raiders, there are a lot of right raiders in the auctions and you can find them there. There are very few left raiders. The left raider that I had, there were very few, Akash Shinde was one of them.

"I've been watching Akash Shinde for the last 2-3 years, since season 8. He's a good raider. He has a good skill, he can do bonuses, he can kick, he has a good skill. That's why I thought I'll take Akash Shinde as a left raider. Then we had a NYP trial in Bengaluru. We made a team of boys and played in a place. Ashish Malik and Ganesh were good raiders.

"We thought we'll go for a boy like that. In the last season, I've seen a lot of players. They took him as the main player of the team. Still, they couldn't give the performance they wanted for the team. That's why I thought it would be better to take him," he added further.

Ajay Thakur: “Puneri Paltan Squad Is Balanced and United”

Former India captain Ajay Thakur is stepping into the PKL coaching world with Puneri Paltan. Having led India to international glory, Thakur now wants to develop a winning culture in Pune. “This is my first season as a coach. Our team is balanced and united. We have a lot of young players with potential,” Thakur stated while speaking exclusively at the PKL pre-season Media Day with JioStar.

With Aslam Inamdar and Mohit Goyat spearheading the attack, Paltan boasts a dangerous raiding duo. But it’s the defensive reshuffle that caught the coach's eye — particularly in the cover positions.

“We’ve strengthened the right and left cover spots which were weak earlier. We have the talent, and now it’s about keeping the players motivated and grounded,” said Thakur.

Thakur - who himself has been a PKL star - also stressed the importance of teamwork over individual brilliance: “Success in PKL comes from team chemistry, not just star names.”

Manpreet Singh: “We Want to Defend Our Title”

Known for his passionate, animated coaching style, Manpreet Singh, helped Haryana Steelers lift their maiden title last season, wants his team to defend the title, but it easier said than done.

While speaking exclusively at the PKL pre-season Media Day with JioStar, Manpreet said, "Winning the PKL title last season was a moment of immense pride for our team, but the real challenge starts now - defending it. This season, every team has strengthened their squad, and the level of competition will be even higher. At Haryana Steelers, our focus is on consistency and discipline. Our defence continues to be our backbone, but we've worked hard to evolve tactically, especially in the raiding department."

Singh, who previously led Gujarat Giants to a PKL final, is aiming to spark a similar transformation in Kolkata. Whether it's Ramesh's defensive mastery, Thakur's emphasis on unity, or Manpreet's high-energy revolution, PKL Season 12 is set for a thrilling tactical showdown. With experienced mentors at the helm, Bengaluru Bulls, Puneri Paltan, and Bengal Warriors look poised to be among the most exciting teams this season.