Bhavani Rajput

Bhavani Rajput is an Indian raider who plays for UP Yoddhas in the Pro Kabaddi League. Standing 6 ft 3 in, he has become a trusted point scorer in a Yoddhas raiding unit that also features Gagan Gowda, Surender Gill and Guman Singh. Fans know him best for his 2024 breakout with the Yoddhas, when he finished with 156 points.

Kabaddi was not always the plan. Speaking to ANI in September 2025, he recalled studying engineering in Indore and taking up the sport during his college days. “Obviously, if I continued with my engineering, I would have been working some job somewhere,” he said, adding that the game and the league brought him fame, appreciation and money.

PKL career

Bhavani made his PKL debut with Tamil Thalaivas in Season 5, playing 4 matches for 3 points. He returned to the Thalaivas in Season 8 and scored 50 points from 21 matches. Two seasons with Jaipur Pink Panthers followed: 36 points in Season 9 and 65 points, including his first Super 10, in Season 10.

His move to UP Yoddhas for Season 11 brought his best campaign so far. He played 22 matches and scored 156 points (151 raid, 5 tackle) with 8 Super 10s, as the Yoddhas made a run to the playoffs. ANI reported his raid success rate that season at 44.67 per cent. In one memorable win over Telugu Titans, he and Bharat Hooda both scored Super 10s, and Bhavani inflicted a late All Out that stretched the lead to eight points in a 40-34 victory.

Across six seasons, his PKL career totals stand at 98 matches, 389 points (379 raid, 10 tackle) and 11 Super 10s.

Season 12

Bhavani stayed with UP Yoddhas for Season 12 in 2025, scoring 79 points (77 raid, 2 tackle) in 17 matches with 2 Super 10s. His raid strike rate was 37 per cent and his tackle strike rate 13 per cent. Early in the season he produced five key points in a win over Patna Pirates, and he spoke warmly of coaches Jasveer Singh and Upendra Malik for giving the players confidence under pressure.

Domestic kabaddi

In 2025 the High Court of Bombay at Goa permitted him to take part in the Federation Cup at Amravati after he had been dropped from the Goa Kabaddi Association’s coaching camp. The court noted that formalities for moving his candidature from Madhya Pradesh to Goa had been followed.

Style of play

ANI described him as a strategic option his coach relies on when matches reach a tense phase, pointing to his agile footwork combined with a robust frame as the qualities that make him a handful for any defence.

Statistics and team history: Pro Kabaddi League.