Ashu Malik is an Indian kabaddi raider from Sonipat, Haryana. Born in Sonipat, he started playing kabaddi at a young age after watching senior players from his village and school. From local competitions to becoming a key player and captain of Dabang Delhi K.C. in the Pro Kabaddi League, Ashu Malik has built his career step by step. He captained Dabang Delhi to the PKL Season 12 title in 2025, and in September 2026 he won a gold medal with India at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where India beat Iran 40-34 in the final.
Ashu Malik was born on 9 January 2002. He plays as a right raider and wears jersey number 77 in the Pro Kabaddi League.
Ashu Malik Biography: Personal Details
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Ashu Malik |
| Date of Birth | 9 January 2002 |
| Birthplace | Sonipat, Haryana, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | Kabaddi Player |
| Playing Position | Right Raider |
| Jersey Number | 77 |
| Main Team | Dabang Delhi K.C. |
| Pro Kabaddi Debut | Season 8, 2021 |
| PKL Titles | Season 8 (2021-22) and Season 12 (2025) with Dabang Delhi K.C. |
| Asian Games 2026 | Gold medal with India (final: India 40-34 Iran) |
Ashu Malik Early Life
Ashu Malik was born in Sonipat, Haryana, a part of the country with a long connection with kabaddi and wrestling. His interest in kabaddi started when he watched senior players from his village playing on the ground near his school. In an interview, Malik recalled that several senior players who worked in the railways used to play at his private school, and watching them helped him develop an interest in the sport.
At the beginning, becoming a professional kabaddi player was not an easy decision for him. His parents wanted him to give more attention to his studies, especially during the first few years of his sporting journey. However, as Malik began playing at higher levels and his performances improved, his family started supporting his kabaddi career and became an important part of his journey.
Malik started playing kabaddi seriously at around the age of 12. The village environment also played an important part in his early development because kabaddi was regularly played around him. Over time, local games gave way to more competitive tournaments, allowing the young raider to test himself against better players.
Ashu Malik Domestic Kabaddi Career
Before entering the Pro Kabaddi League, Ashu Malik made a name for himself in domestic and youth kabaddi competitions. His performances in the Yuva Kabaddi Series and the K7 Kabaddi Tournament helped him get noticed by scouts. These competitions gave him regular opportunities to play, score points and improve his raiding skills against strong opposition.
One of the biggest turning points came during the 2022 Summer Edition of the Yuva Kabaddi Series. Playing for Murthal Magnets, Malik scored 295 points in 26 matches, including 281 raid points and 14 tackle points. He also recorded 11 Super Raids and 25 Super 10s, helping Murthal Magnets win the tournament.
That season showed how quickly Malik could produce points as a young raider. His consistency in domestic tournaments brought him into the view of Pro Kabaddi scouts, and it eventually opened the door for his entry into Dabang Delhi K.C. His move from youth-level competitions to the country’s biggest kabaddi league came at a very young age.
Ashu Malik’s Entry Into Pro Kabaddi League
Ashu Malik joined Dabang Delhi K.C. in Pro Kabaddi Season 8 as a New Young Player. His first season came during one of the most important periods in the franchise’s history because Delhi went on to win its first PKL title. Malik scored 59 points in 22 matches in his debut campaign and got the chance to learn from experienced players while playing in a major professional league.
In Season 9, Malik took another big step forward. He scored 158 total points, including 141 raid points and 17 tackle points, while also recording six Super Raids and five Super 10s. He often played as the second raider alongside Naveen Kumar, but whenever Naveen was unavailable, Malik took on a bigger role and showed that he could handle more responsibility.
His biggest breakthrough came in PKL Season 10. Dabang Delhi used the Final Bid Match card to retain him for ₹96.25 lakh, and Malik responded with the best season of his career at that stage. He scored 276 raid points and 280 total points, while recording 15 Super 10s and nine Super Raids. He was named the Best Raider of PKL Season 10.
One of his best performances in that season came against the Telugu Titans, when he scored 20 raid points in a single match. His average of around 12 raid points per match in Season 10 showed how important he had become to Dabang Delhi’s attack. His progress from a young backup raider to a main attacking player was one of the major stories of his early PKL career.
Ashu Malik as Dabang Delhi Captain
As his role inside the Dabang Delhi team grew, Malik also got leadership responsibility. He had already shown that he could take charge of the raiding department when Naveen Kumar was unavailable, and later he became one of the senior names in the team’s playing group despite being relatively young.
Before PKL Season 12, Ashu Malik entered the auction with a base price of ₹30 lakh. Dabang Delhi used their Final Bid Match card to keep him for ₹1.90 crore, and in August 2025 the franchise named him captain for the season. He played 14 matches in Season 12 and scored 154 points. Dabang Delhi won the title by beating Puneri Paltan 31-28 in the final on 31 October 2025 at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in Delhi. It was the club’s second PKL title, after Season 8. His PKL career tally stands at 105 matches and 916 total points.
PKL Season 13 has been delayed, and no start date had been announced as of September 2026.
Ashu Malik and the Indian Kabaddi Team
Ashu Malik’s progress at the domestic and Pro Kabaddi level eventually brought him into the national-team selection system. In 2026, he was part of India’s preparation camp for the Asian Games and trained with several of the country’s leading kabaddi players at the Inspire Institute of Sport in Bellary, Karnataka. The first preparatory camp was held from March 27 to April 2, 2026.
Malik was then named in India’s final 12-member men’s kabaddi squad for the 2026 Asian Games. It was his first Asian Games. The squad was led by Sunil Kumar, with Pawan Sehrawat as vice-captain, and the other raiders included Ayan Lohchab, Devank Dalal and Arjun Deshwal.
Ashu Malik at Asian Games 2026
The 2026 Asian Games were held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, and the kabaddi events were played from 21 to 26 September 2026. India were in Group A with Bangladesh, the Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei and hosts Japan, and won all four group matches.
Ashu Malik scored 9 raid points in India’s opening 49-24 win over Japan. India then beat Thailand in the semi-final and Iran 40-34 in the final on 26 September 2026 to win the gold medal and defend the title they won at Hangzhou in 2023. Malik finished the tournament with 31 raid points, the fourth-highest total among India’s raiders after Devank Dalal, Arjun Deshwal and Ayan Lohchab.
India’s 12-member men’s squad was Ashu Malik, Ayan Lohchab, Devank Dalal, Arjun Deshwal, Pawan Sehrawat, Aslam Inamdar, Sunil Kumar, Jaideep Dahiya, Rahul Sethpal, Gaurav Khatri, Sumit Sangwan and Ankit Jaglan.
Ashu Malik Personal Life
Ashu Malik generally keeps his personal life away from the public spotlight. Unlike many other sports personalities, he has not shared many details about his relationships, private routines or family life in public interviews. Because of this, there is limited verified information available about his life away from kabaddi.
His parents have, however, been mentioned in interviews about his career. Malik has said that his parents initially wanted him to focus on studies, but later supported his sporting journey. He also revealed that his parents enjoy watching his matches and call him after games, supporting him whether he wins or loses.
Ashu Malik Hobbies
Kabaddi takes up a large part of Ashu Malik’s daily life, but he also enjoys spending time away from the mat. In an interview during the 2026 Asian Games preparation period, he said that he likes going on hilly trips with four or five friends from his village. These trips give him time to relax and spend time with people he has known for years.
Ashu Malik Professional Life
Professionally, Ashu Malik is a kabaddi player and right raider who has spent his entire PKL career with Dabang Delhi K.C. His professional journey has been interesting because he did not enter the league as an established star. Instead, he slowly built his name through youth tournaments, then moved into the PKL and became one of Delhi’s leading players.
His career also includes major individual recognition. The biggest of these came in PKL Season 10, when he was named the Best Raider after scoring 276 raid points. Later, he captained Dabang Delhi to the Season 12 title, and in 2026 he won Asian Games gold with India.
Ashu Malik Salary
Ashu Malik’s net worth has not been made public. His known earnings come from his Pro Kabaddi contracts. Dabang Delhi kept him for ₹96.25 lakh before Season 10 and for ₹1.90 crore at the PKL 12 auction in 2025, using the Final Bid Match card both times.
Ashu Malik Facts
Ashu Malik’s journey contains several interesting facts that explain how quickly he has risen in Indian kabaddi. He started playing the sport at around 12 years of age, and his first major breakthrough came through youth competitions rather than the professional league.
He scored 295 points in 26 matches in the 2022 Yuva Kabaddi Series Summer Edition and helped Murthal Magnets win the title. Soon after, Dabang Delhi signed him as a New Young Player, giving him his first opportunity in the Pro Kabaddi League.
Another major fact is that Malik scored 20 points in a single PKL 10 match against the Telugu Titans. He then finished that season with 276 raid points and was named the Best Raider of the competition.
His current PKL career record stands at 105 matches, 882 raid points and 916 total points, with 46 Super 10s and 30 Super Raids. He also won Asian Games gold with India in Japan in September 2026.
Ashu Malik PKL Career Stats
| Competition / Stage | Matches | Raid Points | Tackle Points | Total Points |
| PKL Season 8 | 22 | 51 | 8 | 59 |
| PKL Season 9 | 23 | 141 | 17 | 158 |
| PKL Season 10 | 23 | 276 | 4 | 280 |
| PKL Season 11 | 23 | 262 | 3 | 265 |
| PKL Season 12 | 14 | 152 | 2 | 154 |
| PKL Career Total | 105 | 882 | 34 | 916 |
Ashu Malik’s story is built around a steady rise from village and school kabaddi to the biggest professional league in India. He started by watching local players, then played youth competitions, impressed scouts and entered the Pro Kabaddi League with Dabang Delhi. Within a few seasons, he moved from being a young supporting raider to one of the team’s main players and later its captain.
In September 2026, the raider from Sonipat added an Asian Games gold medal. He scored 31 raid points in the tournament, and India beat Iran 40-34 in the final.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ashu Malik |
| Date of Birth | 9 January 2002 |
| Birthplace | Sonipat, Haryana, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | Kabaddi Player |
| Playing Position | Right Raider |
| Jersey Number | 77 |
| Main Team | Dabang Delhi K.C. |
| Pro Kabaddi Debut | Season 8, 2021 |
| Asian Games 2026 | Gold medal with India |
Ashu Malik – Early Life & Career
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth | Sonipat, Haryana |
| Started Playing Kabaddi | Around the age of 12 |
| Early Inspiration | Senior kabaddi players from his village and school |
| Initial Family Preference | Parents wanted him to focus on studies |
| Family Support | Parents later supported his kabaddi career |
| Youth Competitions | Yuva Kabaddi Series and K7 Kabaddi Tournament |
| Major Youth Breakthrough | 2022 Yuva Kabaddi Series Summer Edition |
| Team | Murthal Magnets |
| Matches | 26 |
| Total Points | 295 |
| Raid Points | 281 |
| Tackle Points | 14 |
| Super Raids | 11 |
| Super 10s | 25 |
| Tournament Result | Murthal Magnets won the tournament |
Ashu Malik – Pro Kabaddi League Journey
| Season | Team | Role/Highlight | Matches | Raid Points | Tackle Points | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 8 | Dabang Delhi K.C. | New Young Player; debut season | 22 | 51 | 8 | 59 |
| Season 9 | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Played alongside Naveen Kumar; took greater responsibility when required | 23 | 141 | 17 | 158 |
| Season 10 | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Best Raider; major breakthrough | 23 | 276 | 4 | 280 |
| Season 11 | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Continued as a leading player | 23 | 262 | 3 | 265 |
| Season 12 | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Captain; part of title-winning campaign | 14 | 152 | 2 | 154 |
| Career Total | Dabang Delhi K.C. | PKL career | 105 | 882 | 34 | 916 |
Ashu Malik – Major Career Achievements
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| Pro Kabaddi Debut | Season 8, 2021 |
| First PKL Team | Dabang Delhi K.C. |
| PKL Season 8 | 59 points in 22 matches |
| PKL Season 9 | 158 points in 23 matches |
| PKL Season 10 | 280 total points |
| PKL Season 10 Raid Points | 276 |
| PKL Season 10 Recognition | Best Raider |
| PKL Season 10 Best Match | 20 raid points against Telugu Titans |
| PKL Season 12 Role | Captain of Dabang Delhi K.C. |
| PKL Season 12 Achievement | Captained the title-winning team (final: Dabang Delhi 31-28 Puneri Paltan) |
| Asian Games 2026 | Gold medal with India; 31 raid points |
| Current PKL Career | 105 matches, 882 raid points, 916 total points |
| Super 10s | 46 |
| Super Raids | 30 |
Ashu Malik – India & Asian Games 2026
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| National Team | India |
| Asian Games | 2026 |
| Host | Aichi-Nagoya, Japan |
| Kabaddi Dates | 21 September – 26 September 2026 |
| Group | Group A |
| Group Opponents | Bangladesh, Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei, Japan |
| Squad Status | Member of India’s 12-member men’s kabaddi squad |
| Result | Gold medal; India beat Iran 40-34 in the final on 26 September 2026 |
| Ashu Malik’s Raid Points | 31 |
| Position in Squad | Right Raider |
| Preparation Camp | 27 March – 2 April 2026 |
| Camp Location | Inspire Institute of Sport, Bellary, Karnataka |
India’s 2026 Asian Games Men’s Kabaddi Squad
| No. | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ashu Malik |
| 2 | Ayan Lohchab |
| 3 | Devank Dalal |
| 4 | Arjun Deshwal |
| 5 | Pawan Sehrawat |
| 6 | Aslam Inamdar |
| 7 | Sunil Kumar |
| 8 | Jaideep Dahiya |
| 9 | Rahul Sethpal |
| 10 | Gaurav Khatri |
| 11 | Sumit Sangwan |
| 12 | Ankit Jaglan |
Ashu Malik – Personal Life
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Family | Parents initially wanted him to focus on studies |
| Parents’ Support | Later supported his sporting career |
| Parents’ Interest | Watch his matches and call him after games |
| Personal Life | Generally kept away from the public spotlight |
| Hobbies | Going on hilly trips with four or five friends from his village |
Ashu Malik – Financial Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth | Not made public |
| Main Professional Earnings | Pro Kabaddi contracts |
| PKL 12 Auction Price | ₹1.90 crore (Final Bid Match by Dabang Delhi) |
| Financial Details | Sponsorship income, taxes, investments and other private details are not publicly known |
Frequently asked questions
Who is Ashu Malik?
Ashu Malik is an Indian kabaddi raider from Sonipat, Haryana, who plays for Dabang Delhi K.C. in the Pro Kabaddi League. He captained Delhi to the PKL Season 12 title and won Asian Games gold with India in 2026.
What is Ashu Malik's date of birth?
Ashu Malik was born on 9 January 2002.
Where is Ashu Malik from?
He is from Sonipat in Haryana, a region with a long link to kabaddi and wrestling.
Which team does Ashu Malik play for in PKL?
He has played his whole PKL career for Dabang Delhi K.C., since his debut in Season 8 in 2021.
What is Ashu Malik's jersey number?
Ashu Malik wears jersey number 77 in the Pro Kabaddi League.
Is Ashu Malik the captain of Dabang Delhi?
Yes. Dabang Delhi named him captain for PKL Season 12 in August 2025, and he led the team to the title.
Who won PKL Season 12?
Dabang Delhi K.C., captained by Ashu Malik, won PKL Season 12. They beat Puneri Paltan 31-28 in the final on 31 October 2025.
Did Ashu Malik win a gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games?
Yes. He was part of India's men's kabaddi team that beat Iran 40-34 in the final on 26 September 2026. He scored 31 raid points in the tournament.
How much is Ashu Malik paid in PKL?
Dabang Delhi kept him for ₹1.90 crore at the PKL 12 auction in 2025 using the Final Bid Match card. His net worth has not been made public.
When did Ashu Malik win the Best Raider award?
He was named Best Raider of PKL Season 10 after scoring 276 raid points.
