Who Should Lead Team India at the 2026 Asian Games? The Captaincy Call Between Pawan, Sunil, Aslam and Jaideep
India's men's kabaddi team will enter the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya with one clear objective: defend the gold medal.
But before the team takes the mat, the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India faces an important leadership decision. Four prominent names have emerged as possible candidates to lead the national side Pawan Sehrawat, Sunil Kumar Malik, Aslam Inamdar and Jaideep Dahiya. Each offers a different leadership profile.
Pawan brings international success and star power. Sunil offers tactical stability and years of defensive leadership. Aslam represents the next generation of versatile all-rounders, while Jaideep has established himself as one of India's strongest defensive options. The choice, therefore, is not simply about who is the biggest name. It is about identifying the captain whose leadership can best translate into another gold medal.
Pawan Sehrawat: Continuity and Proven Success
Pawan Sehrawat remains the most obvious candidate if India prioritises continuity. The 'Hi-Flyer' has served as India's captain since 2022 and led the team to gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games. He was also part of India's successful campaign at the 2023 Asian Kabaddi Championship in Busan. His leadership comes primarily through performance. As one of the most explosive raiders in world kabaddi, Pawan can change a match within minutes. His ability to score multiple points during high-pressure raids gives India an attacking weapon that few opponents can neutralise consistently.
His Pro Kabaddi League record further strengthens his case. He has accumulated more than 1,400 career raid points, while his 39-point performance against Haryana Steelers remains the league's single-match scoring record.
There is, however, one tactical concern. A raider-captain can be temporarily removed from the mat when tackled. During those periods, India needs another player capable of taking immediate command. That makes the role of the defensive leadership core particularly important.
If the priority is continuous leadership on the mat, Sunil Kumar Malik presents perhaps the strongest case. The right-cover defender was India's vice-captain during the 2022 Asian Games gold-medal campaign and has also won the 2019 South Asian Games and 2023 Asian Championship.
His biggest advantage is positional. Unlike a raider, a cover defender generally remains on the mat while the team's raiders rotate. That allows Malik to constantly communicate with the defensive unit, organise chain tackles, adjust positioning and manage the tempo. His leadership credentials in the PKL are equally strong. Malik captained Jaipur Pink Panthers to the Season 9 championship and has recorded the most total wins as a captain in PKL history, while his 442 career tackle points place him third on the all-time defender list.
For a tournament where India could again face Iran in a high-pressure contest, having a calm defensive organiser could prove decisive.
Aslam Inamdar: The Future Leader
Aslam Inamdar arguably offers the most intriguing long-term option. The left raider and all-rounder provides value in both halves of the game. His breakthrough came during PKL Season 10, when he captained Puneri Paltan to their maiden championship and won the league's MVP award after producing 142 raid points and 26 tackle points.
His leadership continued into Season 12, when he guided Puneri Paltan back to the final. Inamdar has also already represented India at the Asian Championship and Asian Games, giving him international experience alongside his domestic leadership credentials. The argument for making him captain is therefore not simply about his age or potential.
It is about succession planning. With Pawan and Sunil already established as senior leaders, Inamdar could gradually assume greater responsibility and become the central figure of India's next generation. Jaideep Dahiya completes the quartet. The left-cover defender has developed into an important defensive presence and captains the Haryana Steelers in the PKL. In Season 12, he recorded 73 tackle points, seven High 5s and 13 Super Tackles.
His defensive numbers make him a strong candidate for India's starting seven.
However, compared with Pawan, Sunil and Aslam, Dahiya's international leadership record is less established. That makes him a stronger candidate for a starting defensive role than for the captaincy itself.
There is a compelling case for all four, but the most balanced solution may not require choosing one leader at the expense of the others. Pawan Sehrawat should remain India's captain, with Sunil Kumar Malik operating as the primary on-mat defensive commander. That combination gives India continuity while solving the biggest weakness of having a raider as captain.
When Pawan is on the mat, he provides attacking leadership and the ability to take responsibility during crucial raids. When he is off the mat, Malik can immediately assume control of India's defensive structure. Meanwhile, Aslam Inamdar should be positioned as vice-captain and the long-term successor, allowing him to gradually take on greater leadership responsibilities.
Dahiya, meanwhile, should focus on what he does best strengthening India's defensive unit from the left cover position. The source analysis similarly identifies this four-player hierarchy as the strongest strategic structure: Pawan as the primary captain, Sunil as defensive commander, Aslam as vice-captain and successor, and Dahiya as the defensive enforcer.
For India, the objective is bigger than choosing a name for the captain's armband. The team is defending an Asian Games title and will likely face intense pressure from Iran and other emerging challengers. In such a tournament, leadership cannot depend on one player alone.
Pawan can provide the voice, Sunil the tactical control, Aslam the future and Dahiya the defensive steel. That may ultimately be the combination India needs to keep the Asian Games gold medal in its hands.
Comments (0)
to post comments, replies, and votes.
Loading comments…
