Sunil Kumar

Sunil Kumar, also known as Sunil Malik, is an Indian kabaddi defender who plays for U Mumba in the Pro Kabaddi League. Fans know him as one of the league’s most successful leaders: he captained Jaipur Pink Panthers to the Season 9 title in 2022 and holds the PKL record for most wins by a captain, with 87 across Gujarat Giants, Jaipur Pink Panthers and U Mumba. He is also the captain of the Indian men’s team. Born on 12 May 1997, he stands 5 ft 10 in.

Early life

Sunil comes from a farming family in Bhainswal Kalan, in Sonipat District, Haryana. Several of his cousins, including Parvesh Bhainswal, played kabaddi, and he took up the game at the age of 11 after following their lead. Strong showings at the university games caught the eye of coach Jaivir Sharma, and he went on to join the Sports Authority of India training centre in Ahmedabad. He won the Junior Nationals in 2015 and 2016.

PKL career

Sunil made his PKL debut with Patna Pirates in Season 4, playing one match. He then spent four seasons with Gujarat Giants, from Season 5 to Season 8, and his 76 tackle points in Season 6 remain his best single-season tally. A move to Jaipur Pink Panthers followed, and in Season 9 he led the side to the title while scoring 65 points, 64 of them in tackles. He describes that campaign as the highlight of his league career. He has played for U Mumba since Season 11.

Across nine seasons he has played 179 matches and scored 453 points, 442 of them from tackles, with 27 High 5s.

Season 12

In Season 12 (2025) with U Mumba, Sunil played 19 matches and scored 54 points, made up of 52 tackle points and 2 raid points. He recorded 4 High 5s and finished with a tackle strike rate of 48%.

International career

Sunil was part of the Indian team that won gold at the 2022 Asian Games, held in 2023, beating Iran in the final. He was later named captain for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, saying that representing India was a matter of pride for him and for “my teachers, my family, my elder brother.”

His place nearly slipped away. In May, two months before national camp selections, he suffered a comminuted metacarpal fracture in his palm during practice. Mumbai doctor Deepak Bhatia used a minimally invasive procedure with K-wires, and after careful rehabilitation Sunil made the squad. He led India through an unbeaten campaign that opened with a 49-24 win over hosts Japan and ended with a 40-34 victory over Iran in the final on September 26, retaining the gold medal.

Statistics and team history: Pro Kabaddi League.