02-08-2025
It Will Be Challenging But I Hope Bengaluru Bulls Will Have a Good PKL Season: Coach BC Sharma
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In January 2025, Bengaluru Bulls parted ways with long-time coach Randhir Singh Sehrawat after finishing eighth in PKL standings with BC Sharma succeeding him.
Earlier this year in January, Bengaluru Bulls parted ways with their long-time 'coach saab', Randhir Singh Sehrawat. The Bulls had finished eighth in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) standings last season – their lowest-ever finish – marking yet another year without a title. The decision brought an end to an era, with Sehrawat having been associated with the Bulls since the league's inaugural season in 2014. During his 11-season tenure, the team won one title, finished runners-up once, and made it to the playoffs six times.
Looking for a fresh start, the Bulls turned to a familiar face, appointing BC Sharma as their new head coach. Sharma previously served as Sehrawat's assistant when the Bulls won their only PKL title in the 2018-19 season.
Sharma had joined Puneri Paltan and guided them to the title in PKL 10. However, midway through last season, he unexpectedly stepped down from the role, although he remained with the team in an advisory capacity.
Now back with the Bulls, Sharma is hoping for a fresh start and acknowledges the challenges that lie ahead.
'I was in talks with Bengaluru Bulls since last season (to join them). A lot of fans in Karnataka would tell me why I am not joining Bengaluru Bulls. Wherever I went, they told me to come to Bengaluru Bulls," Sharma told News18 while speaking exclusively at the PKL pre-season Media Day organised by JioStar.
'I thought if they (Bulls) give me a chance, surely, I will take it. I am a native of Bengaluru too. I want this team to perform well every year. It will be a challenging season for me too. We have good young players and hope we will have a good season," he added.
One of the key areas the Bengaluru Bulls have focused on ahead of PKL Season 11 is their defence, which looks formidable this time. They spent a staggering Rs 1.125 crore to sign Yogesh Dahiya – the highest amount ever paid for a defender in PKL history.
This approach aligns with Sharma's tactical philosophy.
'From experience, I believe 50% of a match is won through defence," Sharma said. 'That's why we've focused heavily on strengthening that area. Our defence is solid across all positions – right corner, left corner, right cover, left cover."
'On the raiding front, players like Naveen, Mohit, Aslam, Pawan, and Pardeep have come through New Young Players Program (NYP) and are showing great promise. I was looking for a left raider, which is hard to find, and Akash Shinde stood out. I've been following him for 2–3 seasons – he's talented. We also found Aashish Malik and Ganesh during the NYP trials in Bangalore. An Iranian right raider from last season will also add value. Overall, I expect a good team performance," he added.
The 11th season of the PKL starts from October 18 when Bengaluru Bulls face Telugu Titans in Hyderabad.
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