Purvanchal Panthers enters UPKL Season 2 as the 11th franchise in the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League. The team represents the culturally rich Purvanchal region of eastern Uttar Pradesh. With 14 players on the roster, Purvanchal Panthers is ready to compete starting December 24, 2025, at the Noida Indoor Stadium .
The team is co-owned by Arnav Gupta, Director of Citiyano De Resource Exim Pvt Ltd, and Aradhya Gupta, Director of Citiyano De Firenze. Their ownership reflects a clear vision of bringing professional kabaddi to Purvanchal and creating opportunities for local players .
The team’s emblem features a fierce panther flanked by two leaping cats, symbolizing strength, precision, and unity. These values mirror the passion and energy of the Purvanchal region. For the Purvanchal area, having a professional kabaddi team means the region’s young players now have a platform to compete at national levels .
Purvanchal Panthers represents more than just a kabaddi franchise. The team is a symbol of the region’s pride and determination. Through the team, the owners want to channel the spirit and resilience of India’s heartland into professional kabaddi .
The Ownership Story
Arnav Gupta and Aradhya Gupta represent a new generation of sports entrepreneurs in India. Arnav has established Citiyano De Resource Exim as a trusted name in export and import of premium agricultural and industrial products. His business focuses on quality, efficiency, and reliability in driving India’s global trade growth .
Aradhya Gupta leads Firenze’s hospitality and sports promotion initiatives. She combines management expertise with community engagement. Together, Arnav and Aradhya bring business innovation and sports development commitment to Purvanchal Panthers .
Their joint foray into kabaddi ownership shows they are serious about promoting regional talent and fostering excellence. They want to celebrate India’s sporting spirit and give young players from Purvanchal a platform to shine .
Arnav Gupta has stated that joining UPKL is more than a business decision – it is about celebrating the strength and spirit of Purvanchal. He was amazed by the raw talent and professionalism shown in UPKL Season 1 .
Aradhya Gupta believes kabaddi reflects the energy and resilience of India’s heartland. Through Purvanchal Panthers, they want to channel that spirit through professionalism, inclusivity, and passion. UPKL, in their view, is a platform that unites communities and empowers young talent.
Arnav Gupta and Aradhya Gupta’s ownership provides direction for the team. The investment in two star raiders (Lalit Chaudhary and Bhanu Pratap Tomor) shows the team understands that strong raiding is how you win. The inclusion of three all-rounders shows they value flexibility.
Star Raider: Lalit Chaudhary – The Attacking Leader
Lalit Chaudhary is the highest-priced player on Purvanchal Panthers, bought for 210,000 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, Lalit can both raid and defend. This flexibility makes him valuable to the team. Lalit will lead the raiding attacks and create scoring opportunities for Purvanchal Panthers.
Category A raiders like Lalit Chaudhary have usually played in bigger tournaments and understand different defensive setups. They know how to read the defense and find openings to score. This experience is crucial for a new team .
The investment of 210,000 rupees in Lalit Chaudhary shows the team’s clear belief that strong raiding is how you win matches. For a new franchise, having an experienced raider as a leader gives stability and direction .
Second Star Raider: Bhanu Pratap Tomor – Double Raiding Power
Bhanu Pratap Tomor is the second-most expensive player on Purvanchal Panthers, bought for 176,000 rupees at auction order 96. He is also a Category A raider, which means the team has two experienced raiders .
Having two Category A raiders is a strong advantage for Purvanchal Panthers. Both Lalit Chaudhary and Bhanu Pratap Tomor bring experience and proven skills. This double raiding power gives the team flexibility in attacking strategies.
When both raiders are on the field together, they can create many scoring opportunities. When one is tired, the other can take over. This rotation strategy helps maintain the team’s raiding quality throughout the tournament .
The investment of 176,000 rupees in Bhanu Pratap Tomor shows the team is serious about raiding. The team’s top two purchases are both raiders, showing raiding is the core of their strategy .
Building the Raiding Unit
Purvanchal Panthers has invested in four raiders to create a strong attacking force. Beyond the two Category A raiders, the team has additional raiding options .
Hritik Rathi is a Category B raider bought for 115,000 rupees at auction order 28. Aakash Saharawat is a Category C raider bought for 40,000 rupees. These additional raiders provide depth to the raiding unit .
The team also has young talent in raiding. The squad includes raiders at different experience levels, from experienced Category A players to young Category D talents. This mix helps the team adapt to different opponents .
In total, Purvanchal Panthers spent about 280,000 rupees on raiders. This large investment shows the team believes strong raiding creates scoring opportunities and puts pressure on opposing defenses .
Defensive Unit: Building the Foundation
While Purvanchal Panthers focused heavily on raiding, the team also invested in defense. You cannot win only by raiding. The other team will also raid and score points .
Suraj Tomar is a Category C defender bought for 104,000 rupees at auction order 153. This is interesting because the team spent more money on this defender than on some of their raiders, showing they see potential in Suraj.
The team also has Category B defenders like Nigam Chaudhary (79,000 rupees), Shakti Chaudhary (71,000 rupees), Vinay Khatiyan (60,000 rupees), and Shivam Kumar (60,000 rupees). These solid defenders add strength to different positions .
Younger defenders like Sachin Kumar (Category C, 40,000 rupees), Vijay Gaun (Category C, 40,000 rupees), and Rohit Tomar (Category D, 25,000 rupees) bring speed and energy to the defensive line .
In total, Purvanchal Panthers spent about 283,000 rupees on defenders. This investment shows the team understands that controlling opposing raids is important for winning .
All-Rounders: The Flexible Players
Purvanchal Panthers has two all-rounders on the squad – Shivam Teotia and Pankaj Kumar. All-rounders are valuable because they can both raid and defend .
Shivam Teotia is a Category D all-rounder bought for 104,000 rupees at auction order 153. Pankaj Kumar is another all-rounder bought for 25,000 rupees. These players bring flexibility to the team .
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 .
Vinay Khatiyan is listed as an ALR (all-rounder) player bought for 60,000 rupees at auction order 41. This gives the team multiple flexible players who can adapt to different game situations .
Squad Size and Player Distribution
Purvanchal Panthers 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
- Four raiders
- Three all-rounders
- Two more players to complete the squad
This distribution is unique because the team has three all-rounders. This shows they value flexibility and adaptability in their game approach .
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 .
Purvanchal Panthers enters UPKL Season 2 as the 11th franchise 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.
Squad Table: Purvanchal Panthers UPKL Season 2
| Player Name | Role | Category | Auction Price (Rupees) |
| Lalit Chaudhary | RDR (Raider) | A | 210,000 |
| Bhanu Pratap Tomor | RDR (Raider) | A | 176,000 |
| Hritik Rathi | RDR (Raider) | B | 115,000 |
| Suraj Tomar | DEF (Defender) | C | 104,000 |
| Shivam Teotia | ALR (All-Rounder) | D | 104,000 |
| Nigam Chaudhary | DEF (Defender) | B | 79,000 |
| Shakti Chaudhary | DEF (Defender) | B | 71,000 |
| Vinay Khatiyan | ALR (All-Rounder) | B | 60,000 |
| Shivam Kumar | DEF (Defender) | B | 60,000 |
| Sachin Kumar | DEF (Defender) | C | 40,000 |
| Vijay Gaun | DEF (Defender) | C | 40,000 |
| Aakash Saharawat | RDR (Raider) | C | 40,000 |
| Rohit Tomar | DEF (Defender) | D | 25,000 |
| Pankaj Kumar | ALR (All-Rounder) | D | 25,000 |
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 .
Purvanchal Panthers 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 Purvanchal’s pride and brings professional kabaddi to a region with deep kabaddi heritage. Purvanchal Panthers is not just about playing kabaddi. The team is about bringing professional kabaddi opportunities to the Purvanchal region and creating a structured pathway for young players to pursue kabaddi as a career.
