Pawan Sehrawat missing as India name 17 probables for Commonwealth event

Pawan Sehrawat is not among the 17 probables named by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) for the practice camp ahead of the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship, which runs in Ahmedabad from 21 to 31 October 2026. He is far from the only big name missing: the list does not include any of the 12 players who won gold for India at the Asian Games 2026, according to Khel Now, which reported the selection on Monday, 5 October.

The decision hands a fresh group of players the chance to represent India at a tournament with wider significance for the sport. Fourteen Commonwealth nations will compete for the first title, and Khel Now noted that the event’s success could help shape kabaddi’s future at the Commonwealth Games.

The Asian Games gold squad has been rested

Khel Now reported that the players from the Asian Games gold medal team have been rested for this tournament. AKFI’s own reasoning was not quoted, but Khel Now suggested the call could reflect the depth of capable players available to India, many of whom deserve a chance in national colours, while also giving the regulars a much-needed break after the Asian Games campaign.

The result is a camp list built largely around players who were on the fringes of the Asian Games selection. Among them are several familiar names who missed the cut for that squad, including defenders Shubham Shinde, Surjeet Singh and Yogesh Dahiya, and raider Naveen Kumar.

Seven raiders, two all-rounders and eight defenders

The 17 probables are split as follows:

• Raiders: Shivam Patare, Ajit Chouhan, Aditya Shinde, Rakesh Sungroya, Sachin Tanwar, Naveen Kumar, Pankaj Mohite
• All-rounders: Neeraj Narwal, Bharat Hooda
• Defenders: Yogesh Dahiya, Shubham Shinde, Deepak Sankar, Nitesh Kumar, Deepak Rathee, Surjeet Singh, Parvesh Malik, Ajit Pawar

The balance leans slightly towards defence, with eight specialist defenders against seven raiders. Naveen Kumar is the headline name in attack, while the back line carries considerable experience through Shinde, Surjeet and Dahiya. Neeraj Narwal and Bharat Hooda are the only players listed as all-rounders.

Places in the final squad still to be decided

Nothing is settled yet. The final Indian squad will be picked from these 17 after the selectors review performances at the practice camp and weigh up the team’s requirements. That means the camp effectively doubles as a trial, with every player competing for a spot on the plane to the business end of the selection process.

For those who make the cut, the opportunity is significant. With the established stars sitting this one out, the second-string group carries the responsibility of continuing India’s record in international competition and adding another trophy, this time at a new event that organisers hope will lift kabaddi’s profile across the Commonwealth.

The absence of Sehrawat and the rest of the Asian Games group also means India will go into a brand-new tournament with a largely untested combination at international level. How quickly the camp produces a settled seven, and who emerges to lead the raiding unit, will be the key questions for the selectors over the coming fortnight.

What comes next

The probables now head into the practice camp, after which AKFI will announce the final squad. The Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship begins in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, 21 October, and concludes on Saturday, 31 October.