Bharat Hooda: Rise of a Pro Kabaddi League Raiding Star

Bharat Hooda, also known as Bharat Naresh, is an Indian kabaddi player who has established himself as one of the prominent all rounders in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). Born in Kiloi Khas, Rohtak, Haryana, he progressed from local kabaddi competitions to the professional level through his raiding ability and contributions in defence.

His career has included three PKL teams: Bengaluru Bulls, UP Yoddhas and Telugu Titans. His breakthrough came in Season 9, when he scored 282 points for Bengaluru Bulls. By the end of Season 12, he had recorded 883 points in 108 matches across five seasons, including an impressive 247 point campaign with Telugu Titans in 2025.

Who Is Bharat Hooda?

Bharat Hooda is an Indian professional kabaddi player who competes as an all rounder in the Pro Kabaddi League. He is primarily recognised for his attacking performances, particularly his running hand touches, multi point raids and ability to score in pressure situations.

He made his PKL debut with Bengaluru Bulls in Season 8 in 2021. His performances improved considerably in Season 9, when he became one of the team’s leading raiders. After representing Bengaluru Bulls for three consecutive seasons, he moved to UP Yoddhas in Season 11 in 2024. He joined Telugu Titans for Season 12 in 2025.

His journey across these teams reflects his development as an attacking player who can also contribute defensively when required.

Bharat Hooda Profile

Player Details	Information
Full Name	Bharat Hooda
Other Name	Bharat Naresh
Date of Birth	30 October 2002
Birthplace	Kiloi Khas, Rohtak, Haryana
Nationality	Indian
Sport	Kabaddi
Playing Role	All Rounder
PKL Debut	Season 8
First PKL Team	Bengaluru Bulls
Latest Recorded PKL Team	Telugu Titans
Jersey Number	1
Total PKL Matches	108
Total PKL Points	883

Bharat’s Pro Kabaddi League career includes three teams: Bengaluru Bulls, UP Yoddhas and Telugu Titans. His performances across five seasons have established him as a consistent points contributor, particularly in the raiding department.

Early Life and Grassroots Journey

Bharat Hooda comes from Kiloi Khas village in Rohtak, Haryana, a region with a strong tradition of kabaddi and wrestling. He developed an interest in the sport through local competitions before progressing towards organised training and higher levels of competition.

His development has also been associated with the Deepak Niwas Hooda Academy, where he worked on improving his kabaddi skills and understanding of the game. Performances at the grassroots level helped him gain attention and move towards professional opportunities.

His selection by Bengaluru Bulls provided an opportunity to compete alongside experienced players in one of India’s leading kabaddi competitions. The experience helped him adjust to the pace, physical demands and tactical requirements of the Pro Kabaddi League.

Standing around six feet tall, Bharat has a physical advantage that supports his reach during raids. His movement, footwork and ability to return towards the midline are important parts of his attacking game.

Bharat Hooda’s PKL Career Journey

Bharat’s professional career has developed across five Pro Kabaddi League seasons. He began with Bengaluru Bulls, established himself as a major attacking option in Season 9 and subsequently represented UP Yoddhas and Telugu Titans.

Season 8: Debut With Bengaluru Bulls

Bharat made his Pro Kabaddi League debut with Bengaluru Bulls in Season 8. He scored 129 points in 23 matches, comprising 115 raid points and 14 tackle points.

It was a promising start for a young player entering a highly competitive league. His ability to contribute in both departments gave the team another option in its playing combination.

The season also provided valuable experience against established defenders and helped him understand the tactical demands of professional kabaddi.

Season 9: Breakthrough Campaign

Season 9 was the biggest breakthrough of Bharat’s early career. Playing for Bengaluru Bulls, he scored 282 points in 23 matches, including 279 raid points and three tackle points.

He also recorded 16 Super 10s, demonstrating his ability to produce high scoring performances consistently. His 279 raid points placed him second on the season’s raid points leaderboard, behind Arjun Deshwal, who finished with 296.

This campaign established Bharat as one of the leading raiders of the season. His attacking contribution became an important part of Bengaluru Bulls’ performance, and he emerged as a player capable of challenging well organised defensive units.

Season 10: Continuing With Bengaluru Bulls

Bharat continued with Bengaluru Bulls in Season 10. He played 18 matches and scored 109 total points, comprising 103 raid points and six tackle points.

Although his scoring total was lower than his previous campaign, he remained an attacking option for the team. His experience from the breakthrough season also helped him deal with increased expectations and defensive attention from opponents.

The campaign added another season of professional experience to his career before his move to a new franchise.

Season 11: New Chapter With UP Yoddhas

Bharat joined UP Yoddhas for Season 11 in 2024 after spending three seasons with Bengaluru Bulls. The move gave him a different team environment and a fresh opportunity to contribute to another raiding combination.

He finished the campaign with 116 points in 23 matches, including 102 raid points and 14 tackle points. He also recorded five Super 10s.

The season required him to adapt to new teammates, strategies and opposition matchups. His scoring record showed that he continued to contribute in attack while retaining his ability to support the team defensively.

Season 12: Strong Performance With Telugu Titans

Bharat represented Telugu Titans in Season 12 in 2025 and produced one of the strongest campaigns of his career. He scored 247 points in 21 matches, including 230 raid points and 17 tackle points.

He finished third among the season’s leading raiders and topped the all rounder points charts. His 11 Super 10s further demonstrated his consistency as an attacking player.

His partnership with captain Vijay Malik became an important part of Telugu Titans’ attacking strategy. Together, they contributed 83% of the team’s raid points, giving the franchise a productive raiding combination.

Telugu Titans also reached the playoffs for the first time since Season 4 in 2016, ending a nine year wait for a place in the knockout stages.

Bharat delivered an important individual performance in Qualifier 2 against Puneri Paltan. He scored 22 points in the match, but his effort was not enough to prevent a 25–50 defeat. Puneri Paltan advanced to the final and eventually finished as runners up. Bharat’s performance remained one of the notable individual contributions of the Titans’ playoff campaign.

Bharat Hooda PKL Career Stats

Bharat’s season wise statistics show his development as an attacking all rounder. Season 9 remains his highest scoring campaign, while Season 12 stands out for its combination of raiding output, defensive contribution and team success.

Season	Team	Matches	Raid Points	Tackle Points	Total Points
Season 8	Bengaluru Bulls	23	115	14	129
Season 9	Bengaluru Bulls	23	279	3	282
Season 10	Bengaluru Bulls	18	103	6	109
Season 11	UP Yoddhas	23	102	14	116
Season 12	Telugu Titans	21	230	17	247
Overall	3 Teams	108	829	54	883

His overall PKL record also includes several important milestones:

• 883 total points: Scored across 108 Pro Kabaddi League matches.
• 829 raid points: Reflects his primary contribution to his teams’ attacking play.
• 54 tackle points: Shows that he has also contributed defensively.
• 39 Super 10s: He has scored at least 10 raid points in 39 matches.
• 26 Super Raids: He has produced 26 raids worth three or more points.

These numbers highlight his value as a player who can contribute consistently through raids while also supporting the defensive unit.

Playing Style and Strengths

Bharat is primarily an attacking player, but his all rounder role allows him to contribute beyond raiding. His physical reach, footwork and awareness of defensive formations help him create scoring opportunities against different types of opponents.

His main strengths include:

• Running hand touches: He uses his reach and quick movement to touch defenders before returning towards the midline.
• Do or die raids: He can remain composed when his team needs a point to avoid losing a raid.
• Multi point raids: He looks for opportunities to collect points against multiple defenders when the defensive formation leaves an opening.
• Bonus point awareness: His understanding of the bonus line gives him another way to score against organised defences.
• Defensive contribution: His 54 career tackle points show that he can support his team when required.

A Super Raid is recorded when a raider scores three or more points in a single raid. Bharat’s record of 26 Super Raids reflects his ability to produce high value attacking efforts.

These qualities make him a flexible player who can contribute in different match situations rather than depending on only one scoring method.

Bharat Hooda’s 20 Point Performance in His 100th PKL Match

One of Bharat’s standout performances came against Haryana Steelers in PKL Season 12. Playing for Telugu Titans, he scored 20 points in a 46–29 victory on October 8, 2025.

The performance included 16 raid points and four tackle points. The match was particularly significant because it marked his 100th appearance in the Pro Kabaddi League.

Telugu Titans’ victory was their fifth consecutive win, extending a franchise record winning run. Bharat played a major role in the result through his contribution in both departments.

His performance included a three man wipeout raid and a do or die tackle that helped the Titans secure another all out. The official Pro Kabaddi League match report highlighted his contribution in the victory.

Reaching 100 PKL appearances while producing a 20 point performance made the occasion an important milestone in his professional career.

Domestic Kabaddi Career

Bharat has also been associated with domestic kabaddi beyond the Pro Kabaddi League. He was included in the Services squad for the 71st Senior National Men’s Kabaddi Championship held in Cuttack, Odisha, in February 2025.

The Services team won the tournament after defeating Railways in the final through a tie breaker, following a match that finished level. The squad featured several established PKL players, including Naveen Kumar, Devank Dalal, Bharat Hooda and Rahul Sethpal.

His inclusion in the Services setup reflects his involvement in the domestic kabaddi circuit alongside his professional league career.

What Lies Ahead for Bharat Hooda?

Bharat has demonstrated his ability to score heavily across different PKL seasons and contribute to more than one team. His next challenge is to maintain that consistency and continue developing as a complete kabaddi player.

Some areas that could shape his future progress include:

• Consistency: Repeating his high scoring performances across an entire season.
• Defensive improvement: Increasing his tackle contribution to become more effective in both departments.
• Leadership: Using his experience to support younger players and strengthen team combinations.
• Big match performances: Maintaining his scoring ability during playoffs and high pressure encounters.
• Team contribution: Working alongside other raiders to create a balanced attacking unit.

His performances with Bengaluru Bulls, UP Yoddhas and Telugu Titans have established him as an experienced name in the Pro Kabaddi League. Continued improvement could make him an even more influential player in future seasons.

FAQs About Bharat Hooda

Conclusion

Bharat Hooda’s journey from grassroots kabaddi in Haryana to becoming a recognised Pro Kabaddi League all rounder reflects his progress as an attacking player. His 282 point Season 9 campaign established him among the leading raiders, while his 247 point Season 12 performance demonstrated his ability to contribute consistently for Telugu Titans.

His 22 point effort in Qualifier 2, 20 point performance in his 100th PKL match and overall record of 883 points across 108 appearances are important milestones in his career. With experience across three franchises and contributions in both raiding and defence, Bharat remains a notable player in Indian professional kabaddi.