"Nobody knew him" - Manpreet Singh on how Pawan Sehrawat became a star in PKL after training under him [Exclusive]

Haryana Steelers head coach Manpreet Singh has claimed significant credit for the meteoric rise of Pawan Sehrawat, popularly known as the "Hi-Flyer," in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Manpreet revealed how his unique training methods transformed Sehrawat into one of the league's finest raiders.

Manpreet, who recently led the Haryana Steelers to their maiden PKL title on December 29, 2024, defeating the Patna Pirates in the final, is no stranger to success. This triumph made him the first individual to win the PKL both as a captain (captain of Patna Pirates in Season 3) and a coach.

Known for nurturing young talent, Manpreet has had an indelible impact on players across multiple franchises, including the Gujarat Giants and now the Haryana Steelers.

Reflecting on Pawan Sehrawat's early days, Manpreet said:

"I feel immense satisfaction when my players go for crores in the auction. Take Pawan Sehrawat, for example. In his first season with Bengaluru Bulls, nobody knew him. When he joined me, the training he underwent was unmatched. You can ask him if he has ever trained like that with any other team. What he learned with me made him a star, and later, he went for crores.”

Sehrawat began his PKL journey with the Bengaluru Bulls in Season 3, managing just 53 points in 13 games. After a similarly lackluster Season 4, he joined the Gujarat Giants in Season 5, where Manpreet Singh was at the helm. Although Sehrawat only managed 10 points in nine matches, Manpreet claims this stint laid the foundation for his explosive comeback.

Pawan returned to the Bengaluru Bulls in Season 6 and delivered a historic performance with 271 raid points in 24 games, averaging 11.29 raid points per match, leading the Bulls to their maiden PKL title. Ironically, they defeated Manpreet's Gujarat Giants in the final.

Now, with 1388 raid points in 139 matches, Pawan Sehrawat ranks third on the list of all-time raid points in PKL history.

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“Each of them became stars after playing under me” - Manpreet Singh on his influence on some big names in PKL

Manpreet Singh didn’t stop at Pawan Sehrawat. He also highlighted his pivotal role in the careers of several other kabaddi stars.

“Then there’s Chandran Ranjith, who became famous as ‘66.’ He went unsold in one season. When I became the coach of Gujarat, I picked him up along with a couple of other unsold players. Look at him now; he’s played for years, and sometimes he’s gone for ₹60-70 lakhs," he added.

Manpreet’s tutelage turned the duo of Sunil Kumar and Parvesh Bhainswal into one of the most formidable defensive pairings in PKL history. The two were instrumental in Gujarat’s back-to-back finals appearances in Seasons 5 and 6. Sunil later became the league's most successful captain, leading the Jaipur Pink Panthers to the final in PKL 9 and the U Mumba to the playoffs in PKL 11.

Another standout name is Sachin Tanwar. He emerged under Manpreet’s guidance in Gujarat and went on to become the costliest player in the PKL 11 auction, fetching ₹2.15 crores.

“Sunil and Parvesh? I showed the world their partnership. They played for India because of that. Sachin Tanwar? He’s worth ₹2 crores now. Rohit Gulia and so many others I can count. Each of them became stars after playing under me.”

Manpreet detailed his coaching philosophy, emphasizing how he adapts to each player’s strengths rather than forcing changes. He added:

“Pardeep Narwal, Sandeep Narwal, Jaideep, and now Rakesh, who’s playing for Gujarat. These players are like my younger brothers. I’ve had the opportunity to teach them, and they’ve learned a lot from me. I never change or ruin a player’s skills. Instead, I refine and polish them to perfection. Like a jeweler turns a rough diamond into a sparkling gem, that’s what I do. I understand their game and enhance their skills, and you see the results on the mat.”

He also cited the evolution of Mohammadreza Shadloui, who was instrumental in the Haryana Steelers' maiden PKL title-winning campaign.

“Take Mohammadreza Shadloui, for example, who’s playing for Haryana now. He’s the same Shadloui who played for Puneri Paltan and Patna Pirates. Now, he’s so versatile that even when he raids, he looks like the best raider. I’ve told him, ‘If you feel like raiding, go ahead. If you want to defend, focus on that. Just enjoy kabaddi.’ That’s the environment we create for our players," Manpreet continued.

Shadloui played a pivotal role in Haryana's success, finishing as the Most Valuable Player of the Season. He amassed 82 tackle points, the most by any defender in Season 11, and added an impressive 57 raid points.

His standout performance came in the final against the Patna Pirates, where he registered a High 5, sealing Haryana's victory.

Shadloui is no stranger to success, having helped the Patna Pirates finish as runner-up in Season 8, and then lifting the title with the Puneri Paltan in Season 10. He has now added another trophy to his name with the Haryana Steelers in Season 11.