Sunil Kumar Biography
Sunil was born in a family of farmers and started playing Kabaddi at a very young age. His journey from a rural village in Haryana to becoming PKL’s most successful captain is truly inspiring. Here are quick facts about Sunil Kumar as a Kabaddi player.
| Origin | Sonipat District, Haryana, India |
| Family | Belongs to a farming family; his cousin Parvesh Bhainswal is also a PKL defender |
| Date of Birth | 12 May 1997 |
| Age | 28 years |
| Height in feet | 5’1” |
| Weight | ~78 kg |
| Wife | Single |
| Team | Patna Pirates; Gujarat Fortunegiants (Captain); Jaipur; U Mumba (Captain) |
| Captaincy | Gujarat (Seasons 6–7), Jaipur (Season 9), U Mumba (Seasons 10–12) |
| Playing Role | Defender (Right Cover) |
| Style | Strong tackling, chain coordination, quick dashes & ankle holds |
Education
Sunil studied at Government Senior Secondary School in Bhainswal Kalan, where he first began playing Kabaddi seriously. Later, he joined the Sports Authority of India (SAI) training center in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, and pursued a career in Kabaddi.
Family
He was born in Bhainswal Kalan and grew up in a farming family. Like many boys from his village, he was introduced to Kabaddi at an early age, only to become Sunil Kumar, a kabaddi player and a young legend.
He shares a very close bond with his cousin, Parvesh Bhainswal, who is also a professional player in the PKL. The two not only grew up together but also trained alongside each other. They even later went on to represent the Gujarat Fortunegiants as a defensive pair and became one of the most well-known duos.
Sports Career of Sunil Kumar
Sunil Kumar (Kabaddi) became a professional player when he joined Patna Pirates. Even if it was only for one match, he managed to show his strengths. However, the following year, the Gujarat Fortunegiants signed him, marking the beginning of his true sports career. By Season 6, he had been trusted with the captaincy of Gujarat.
Later, Sunil moved to the Jaipur Pink Panthers in Season 9. He became a captain there as well, demonstrating his leadership capabilities. Today, Sunil Kumar is a Pro Kabaddi League legend, regarded as one of the most successful captains in the history of the PKL. He is currently a captain of U Mumba.
| Team | Period | Role |
| Patna Pirates | Season 4 (2016) | Defender (Right Cover) |
| Gujarat Giants / Fortune Giants | Seasons 5–8 (2017–2021) | Defender (Right Cover), Captain in Season 6 (2018) |
| Jaipur Pink Panthers | Seasons 9–10 (2022–2023) | Defender, Captain in Season 9 |
| U Mumba | Season 11 onward (2024–present) | Defender (Team Captain) |
Stats, Raid Points & Net Worth
Here are Sunil Kumar’s (Kabaddi) stats for over 160 PKL matches:
- 741 total tackles, with around 360 successful tackles
- Tackle success rate: ~48–49%
- 30 Super Tackles
- 23 High 5s
- 399 Total Points Earned
In PKL Season 11, he earned:
- 54 tackle points from 110 tackles
- 8 Super Tackles and 3 High 5s in 23 matches
Sunil Kumar Auction & Current Kabaddi Team
Sunil was acquired by U Mumba for ₹1,015 crores in 2024, making him the most expensive Indian defender in the league’s history at that time. Now he remains the heart of U Mumba heading into PKL Season 12. Notable names of Sunil Kumar’s Kabaddi teammates include his cousin Parvesh Bhainswal, Rinku Sharma, and the all-rounder Amir Mohammad Zafardanesh.