Gazab Ghaziabad is the newest franchise in UPKL Season 2, entering the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League for the first time. The team represents the city of Ghaziabad, one of the largest industrial cities near Delhi in Uttar Pradesh. With 14 players on the roster, Gazab Ghaziabad is ready to make their mark in professional kabaddi starting December 24, 2025, at the Noida Indoor Stadium.
The word “Gazab” means amazing or excellent in Urdu and Hindi. The team name reflects the team’s ambition to bring amazing kabaddi performances to the city. Ghaziabad is home to millions of people and now has a professional kabaddi team to call their own. This is a historic moment for the city and its kabaddi fans.
Gazab Ghaziabad has co-owners Lakhsya Sharma and Deepak Singh, with actor Tusshar Kapoor joining as co-owner. Tusshar Kapoor’s involvement brings Hollywood connections and celebrity support to the team. His backing shows that kabaddi is gaining interest from famous personalities who want to invest in the sport .
The team’s owners want to bring national-level kabaddi opportunities to local players from Ghaziabad and surrounding areas. They have invested carefully in building a balanced squad that can compete against experienced teams while also serving as a platform for young talent development.
Owner’s Vision
Gazab Ghaziabad has owners Lakhsya Sharma and Deepak Singh, with Tusshar Kapoor as co-owner. Tusshar Kapoor is an actor known for films in Bollywood and OTT platforms. His involvement in kabaddi shows growing interest from celebrities in homegrown sports .
The owners believe in using the team to develop young talent from Ghaziabad and surrounding areas. Through Gazab Ghaziabad, they want to give young players a platform to compete at professional levels .
The owners also want to build kabaddi ecosystem in Ghaziabad. They focus on grassroots development alongside professional competition. Young players from the region can see a clear path from local clubs to professional leagues through Gazab Ghaziabad.
Tusshar Kapoor’s Involvement
Actor Tusshar Kapoor joining as co-owner brings celebrity backing to Gazab Ghaziabad. Tusshar has expressed interest in engaging with homegrown sports like kabaddi .
His involvement gives the team visibility beyond kabaddi circles. More people know about the team because of Tusshar’s celebrity status. This can help attract sponsors and build the franchise brand .
Tusshar’s support also shows that kabaddi is gaining interest from entertainment industry figures. This mainstream backing helps grow the sport’s popularity across India.
Star Raider: Anil Kumar – The Attacking Power
Anil Kumar is the highest-priced player on Gazab Ghaziabad, bought for 225,000 rupees. He is a Category A raider, which means he has experience and proven skills in scoring points .
As an RDR (right defender raider) position player, Anil can both raid and defend. This flexibility makes him very valuable to the team. Anil will lead the raiding attacks and create scoring opportunities.
Category A raiders like Anil Kumar have usually played in bigger tournaments and understand how different defenses work. They know how to read the opposition and find openings to score. This experience is crucial for a new team like Gazab Ghaziabad .
The investment of 225,000 rupees in Anil Kumar shows the team’s clear belief that strong raiding is how you win kabaddi matches. For their first season, having an experienced raider as captain gives the team stability and leadership.
Experienced Defender: Ronak Singh – The Wall
Ronak Singh is the third-most expensive player on Gazab Ghaziabad, bought for 100,000 rupees at auction order 20. He is a Category A defender, which means he brings experience and proven defensive skills .
As a DEF player, Ronak Singh’s main job is to stop raiders from the other team and make tackles. A good defender can win matches by controlling raids and limiting the opposition’s scoring chances.
Ronak Singh brings leadership to the defensive unit. Young defenders on the team can learn from his experience. The team can trust Ronak to handle tough raiders and make smart decisions.
Having both a star raider and a star defender as the top purchases shows Gazab Ghaziabad understands that kabaddi needs balance. You cannot win only by raiding or only by defending. The team has invested in both.
Building the Raiding Unit
Gazab Ghaziabad has invested in raiders to create a strong attacking force. The team has four raiders on the squad to create scoring opportunities.
After Anil Kumar, the team has other raiders who bring different qualities. Uday Dabas is a Category B raider bought for 90,000 rupees at auction order 72. Aman Pawar is another Category B raider bought for 60,000 rupees at auction order 65.
The team also has Aman Rana, a Category C raider bought for 40,000 rupees, and Vishal Kumar, a Category D raider bought for 25,000 rupees. These younger raiders bring speed and energy.
In total, Gazab Ghaziabad spent about 220,000 rupees on four raiders. This investment shows the team believes in strong raiding. The team wants to score points and put pressure on opposing defenses.
Defensive Unit: Solid Foundation for New Team
While Gazab Ghaziabad focused on raiding, the team also built a solid defensive unit. You cannot win only by raiding. The other team will also raid and score points.
After Ronak Singh, the team has other defenders. Abhishek Pandey is a Category B defender bought for 60,000 rupees. Harsh Dhaka is a Category C defender bought for 171,000 rupees. This large investment in a Category C defender shows the team sees potential in this player.
The team also has Shaurya Singh (Category C, 40,000 rupees), Vipul Chaudhary (Category C, 40,000 rupees), Hariom (Category C, 40,000 rupees), and Gopal Sharma (Category D, 25,000 rupees). These defenders bring different qualities.
In total, Gazab Ghaziabad spent about 376,000 rupees on defenders. This large investment shows the team believes in building a defensive wall.
All-Rounders: The Flexible Players
Gazab Ghaziabad has one all-rounder on the squad – Arpit Chahal, a Category B player bought for 60,000 rupees at auction order 78. All-rounders are valuable because they can both raid and defend.
Arpit Chahal brings flexibility to the team. As a Category B all-rounder, he brings experience and can shift between raiding and defending depending on what the match needs.
All-rounders allow the team to change their approach during matches. If raiding is not working well, all-rounders can help the defense. If the defense is strong, all-rounders can add to raiding efforts.
Squad Size and Player Distribution
Gazab Ghaziabad has 14 players on the squad for UPKL Season 2. This is a good size for a kabaddi team. Having 14 players means the team can rotate players to manage injuries and keep players fresh.
The squad includes:
- Six defenders
- Four raiders
- One all-rounder
- Three more players to complete the squad
This distribution shows the team focused on defense but also maintained good raiding options. For a new franchise, this balance is smart.
The squad includes players from different experience levels. Experienced Category A and B players bring knowledge. Younger Category C and D players bring speed and energy. This combination should help the new franchise compete well.
Squad Table: Gazab Ghaziabad UPKL Season 2
| Player Name | Role | Category | Auction Price (Rupees) |
| Anil Kumar | RDR (Raider) | A | 225,000 |
| Harsh Dhaka | DEF (Defender) | C | 171,000 |
| Ronak Singh | DEF (Defender) | A | 100,000 |
| Uday Dabas | RDR (Raider) | B | 90,000 |
| Abhishek Pandey | DEF (Defender) | B | 60,000 |
| Aman Pawar | RDR (Raider) | B | 60,000 |
| Arpit Chahal | ALR (All-Rounder) | B | 60,000 |
| Aman Rana | RDR (Raider) | C | 40,000 |
| Shaurya Singh | DEF (Defender) | C | 40,000 |
| Vipul Chaudhary | DEF (Defender) | C | 40,000 |
| Hariom | DEF (Defender) | C | 40,000 |
| Vishal Kumar | RDR (Raider) | D | 25,000 |
| Gopal Sharma | DEF (Defender) | D | 25,000 |
| Yashvant Singh | RDR (Raider) | D | 25,000 |
Gazab Ghaziabad enters UPKL Season 2 as the newest franchise with clear vision and balanced squad selection. The team’s auction strategy shows careful thinking suitable for a new team entering a competitive league.
The owners Lakhsya Sharma, Deepak Singh, and Tusshar Kapoor provide backing and direction for the team. The investment in both experienced raiders and defenders shows they understand that kabaddi needs balance. The inclusion of young talent shows they are thinking about long-term growth.
The squad composition with 14 players gives the team flexibility despite being new. Having experienced Category A players brings stability. Young Category C and D players bring energy and development potential.
Gazab Ghaziabad enters UPKL Season 2 with clear objectives, balanced squad depth, and good preparation. For a new franchise, the team has done smart planning and squad selection. Whether they can translate their planning into match wins will be seen on the kabaddi field starting December 24, 2025.
The team represents Ghaziabad city’s sports spirit and brings professional kabaddi opportunities to the region. Gazab Ghaziabad is not just about playing kabaddi. The team is about bringing professional kabaddi pride to Ghaziabad and creating opportunities for local players to shine on a national platform.
