Kanpur Warriors enters UPKL Season 2 as one of two new franchises in the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League. The team represents the city of Kanpur, a historic industrial city known for its strong kabaddi heritage and passionate sports culture. With 14 players on the roster, Kanpur Warriors is ready to compete starting December 24, 2025, at the Noida Indoor Stadium .
The team is owned by Bhumika Vora of BA Sports Club LLP, an entrepreneur focused on developing grassroots kabaddi. Kanpur Warriors marks a strategic expansion of UPKL into Kanpur, one of Uttar Pradesh’s most kabaddi-strong cities. The team’s ownership reflects a clear vision of bringing professional kabaddi to Kanpur and placing the sport at the center of the city’s sporting identity .
The team name “Warriors” reflects not just athletic strength but the spirit of Kanpur’s people – strong, determined, and passionate about kabaddi. For Kanpur, having a professional kabaddi team means the city’s young players now have a structured pathway from local clubs to national-level competition. This is a historic moment for kabaddi in Kanpur.
Owner’s Vision
Bhumika Vora, owner of Kanpur Warriors through BA Sports Club LLP, has a clear vision for the team. She believes Kanpur is a city full of fire, heritage, and underrepresented talent. Through Kanpur Warriors, she wants to provide a platform to showcase, build, and grow this talent .
Bhumika Vora’s approach focuses on breaking stereotypes about kabaddi. She wants to place kabaddi at the center of Kanpur’s sporting identity. The team’s name “Warriors” reflects this spirit – it is about athletic grit and the spirit of Kanpur’s people .
The owner also believes in giving young players a structured pathway to professional kabaddi. Instead of starting from gully kabaddi, young players can now work towards Kanpur Warriors and eventually national-level teams.
Star Defender: Shubham Kumar – The Backbone
Shubham Kumar is the highest-priced player on Kanpur Warriors, bought for 320,000 rupees. He is a Category A defender, which means he has experience and proven skills from past tournaments .
As a DEF player, Shubham Kumar’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.
Shubham Kumar brings leadership to the defensive unit. Younger defenders on the team can learn from his experience. The team can trust Shubham to handle tough raiders and make smart decisions in critical moments.
The investment of 320,000 rupees in Shubham Kumar shows the team’s clear belief that strong defense is the way to win matches. For a new franchise, having an experienced star defender as a leader gives stability .
Star Raider: Azad Singh – The Attacking Force
Azad Singh is the second-most expensive player on Kanpur Warriors, bought for 260,000 rupees at auction order 39. He is a Category A raider, which means he brings experience and proven raiding skills .
As an RDR (right defender raider) position player, Azad can both raid and defend. This flexibility makes him valuable. Azad will lead the raiding attacks and create scoring opportunities for the team.
Category A raiders like Azad Singh have usually played in bigger tournaments and understand different defensive setups. They know how to read the defense and find openings to score points. This experience is crucial for a new team .
The investment of 260,000 rupees in Azad Singh shows the team’s belief that strong raiding is equally important as strong defense. The two largest purchases – one defender and one raider – show Kanpur Warriors believes in balance .
Building the Raiding Unit
Kanpur Warriors has invested in five raiders to create a strong attacking force. Having multiple raiders gives the team options and flexibility in how they approach raiding .
After Azad Singh, the team has other raiders. Ayush is a Category B raider bought for 81,000 rupees at auction order 69. Vinay Baliyan is another Category B raider bought for 60,000 rupees at auction order 57.
The team also has Category C raiders like Vikram Pratap (40,000 rupees), Abhishek Kumar (40,000 rupees), Ankit Yadav (40,000 rupees), and Raghav Salaklan (40,000 rupees). Young Category D raider Anuj Kumar Yadav was bought for 40,000 rupees, and Rinku Yadav for 25,000 rupees.
In total, Kanpur Warriors spent about 326,000 rupees on raiders. This large investment shows the team believes strong raiding creates scoring opportunities and puts pressure on opposing defenses .
Defensive Unit: A Strong Wall
While Kanpur Warriors 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 Shubham Kumar, the team has other defenders. Vivek Kumar is a Category B defender bought for 108,000 rupees at auction order 52. This high investment shows the team values defensive strength.
Himanshu Deshwal is another Category B defender bought for 60,000 rupees at auction order 71. The team also has Category C defender Hunny Kumar bought for 40,000 rupees and young Category D defender Dev Choudhary bought for 25,000 rupees.
In total, Kanpur Warriors spent about 233,000 rupees on defenders. This investment shows the team believes in building a defensive foundation to control opposing raids .
Squad Size and Player Distribution
Kanpur Warriors has 14 players on the squad for UPKL Season 2. This is a good squad size for a kabaddi team. Having 14 players means the team can rotate players to manage injuries and keep players fresh .
The squad includes:
- Five defenders
- Eight raiders
- One player to complete the squad
This distribution is interesting because the team has more raiders than defenders. This shows Kanpur Warriors wants to focus on strong raiding while maintaining solid defense.
The squad includes players from different experience levels. Experienced Category A and B players bring knowledge and stability. Younger Category C and D players bring speed and energy. This combination should help the new franchise compete well.
Squad Table: Kanpur Warriors UPKL Season 2
| Player Name | Role | Category | Auction Price (Rupees) |
| Shubham Kumar | DEF (Defender) | A | 320,000 |
| Azad Singh | RDR (Raider) | A | 260,000 |
| Vivek Kumar | DEF (Defender) | B | 108,000 |
| Ayush | RDR (Raider) | B | 81,000 |
| Vinay Baliyan | RDR (Raider) | B | 60,000 |
| Himanshu Deshwal | DEF (Defender) | B | 60,000 |
| Vikram Pratap | RDR (Raider) | C | 40,000 |
| Abhishek Kumar | RDR (Raider) | C | 40,000 |
| Ankit Yadav | RDR (Raider) | C | 40,000 |
| Raghav Salaklan | RDR (Raider) | C | 40,000 |
| Hunny Kumar | DEF (Defender) | C | 40,000 |
| Anuj Kumar Yadav | RDR (Raider) | D | 40,000 |
| Dev Choudhary | DEF (Defender) | D | 25,000 |
| Rinku Yadav | RDR (Raider) | D | 25,000 |
SJ Uplift Kabaddi’s Vision
Kanpur Warriors operates under the umbrella of SJ Uplift Kabaddi, the organization founded by Sambhav Jain that conceptualizes and operates UPKL. SJ Uplift Kabaddi’s vision is to transform kabaddi from a gully sport into a structured professional ecosystem .
Kanpur Warriors’ inclusion in UPKL is part of this larger vision. The franchise gives grassroots athletes from Kanpur a launchpad to reach national and even global stages. This creates a tiered ladder: from local leagues to UPKL to national teams .
Kanpur Warriors enters UPKL Season 2 as one of two new franchises with clear vision and solid squad selection. The team’s auction strategy shows careful thinking suited for a franchise entering professional kabaddi for the first time.
Bhumika Vora’s ownership and vision provide direction for the team. The investment in star defender Shubham Kumar and star raider Azad Singh shows the team understands that kabaddi needs balance. The large raiding unit shows they want an attacking style.
The squad composition with 14 players gives the team flexibility despite being new. Having experienced Category A and B players brings stability. Young Category C and D players bring energy and development potential.
Kanpur Warriors enters UPKL Season 2 with clear objectives, solid squad depth, and focused 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 starting December 24, 2025 .
The team represents Kanpur’s pride and brings professional kabaddi to a city with deep kabaddi heritage. Kanpur Warriors is not just about playing kabaddi. The team is about bringing professional kabaddi opportunities to Kanpur and creating a structured pathway for young players to pursue kabaddi as a career.
