Sudhakar M has emerged as one of Indian kabaddi’s most promising young raiders, going from playing local tournaments in rural Tamil Nadu to becoming a rising star for Patna Pirates in the Pro Kabaddi League. Known for his agile raiding style and quick escapes, he earned instant comparisons to former Patna Pirates great Pardeep Narwal after a standout debut season.
This article covers everything about Sudhakar the kabaddi player, including his age, height, family background, career journey, complete PKL stats and achievements.
Who Is Sudhakar
Sudhakar Maruthamuthu, commonly known as Sudhakar M, is an Indian kabaddi player who plays as a left raider for Patna Pirates in the Pro Kabaddi League. He was signed by Patna Pirates under the New Young Player category for Season 10 of the league in 2023, and quickly established himself as one of the team’s key attacking options, drawing comparisons to former Patna Pirates star raider Pardeep Narwal for his raiding style.
Sudhakar (Kabaddi Player) Age
Sudhakar M was born on March 18, 2002, in Palayanallur village, Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) district, Tamil Nadu. This makes him around 24 years old as of 2026.
Sudhakar Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
Sudhakar M stands at 6 feet 1 inch, or approximately 185 centimeters, and weighs around 75 kilograms. His height and build give him a notable physical advantage as a raider, combined with the agility and quick footwork he is known for on the mat.
Family Background
Sudhakar M comes from a modest farming family in Palayanallur village, Tiruchirappalli district, Tamil Nadu. His father, Maruthamuthu, is a farmer who owned relatively little land compared to other farmers in the village, meaning the family did not come from a position of financial comfort. Kabaddi runs deep in the family, as Sudhakar’s father, his four older brothers, and several cousins all played the sport at the local level. Despite being the youngest in the family, he was initially not allowed to travel for matches, though his obvious talent eventually changed his family’s mind about his kabaddi journey.
Career Journey
Early Life and Introduction to Kabaddi
Sudhakar M began learning kabaddi at the age of 12 at a local club called Pasaparavai Palayanallur, where he took part in numerous local and district-level tournaments. Kabaddi was already deeply rooted in his family, with his father, four elder brothers and several cousins all having played the sport, so Sudhakar naturally gravitated toward it as a child. However, as the youngest son in the household, he was initially not allowed to travel with the team for tournaments outside the village.
A turning point came during his 11th standard, in what he has described as a life-changing moment. A match was scheduled in a neighboring village, and the senior players had already left the night before. The next morning, two team members were heading over to deliver identification cards and asked Sudhakar to tag along. His elder brother, Sangeeth, scolded him for tagging along, but as fortune would have it, one of the listed players failed to make the required weight limit, and Sudhakar was asked to step in as a substitute. He scored four points and helped the team win the match, an experience that changed the course of his life and set him firmly on the path toward a serious kabaddi career. From then on, he trained rigorously on his own in muddy village fields early in the mornings to sharpen his skills.
Rise Through Local Tournaments
Through 2021, Sudhakar built a strong reputation on the Tamil Nadu tournament circuit, winning or placing in the podium positions at a string of local tournaments across towns including Karaikudi, Nagapattinam, Thoothukudi, Thammampatti, Kallakurichi and Ammampalayam, competing both individually and for his club, Pasaparavai Palayanallur. In November 2021, he represented the Bharathidasan University Kabaddi Team at the South Zone Inter-University Kabaddi Tournament, helping the team emerge as tournament winners. To get sufficient support and opportunities to compete at this level, Sudhakar reportedly had to switch colleges partway through his studies.
Yuva Kabaddi Series Breakthrough
In 2019, at the age of 21, Sudhakar reportedly made a personal vow that he would not watch the Pro Kabaddi League on television until he became a part of it himself. His breakthrough opportunity arrived at the Winter 2022 edition of the Yuva Kabaddi Series in Pondicherry, a tournament that serves as a feeder system into the Pro Kabaddi League. Playing for the debutant team Palani Tuskers, Sudhakar was the standout performer of the tournament, finishing as the season’s best raider with 320 raid points from just 28 matches, at an impressive strike rate of 77.10 percent and an average of 11.42 raid points per match, along with 13 Super Raids and 18 Super 10 performances. The Palani Tuskers finished as runners-up in the tournament, with Sudhakar playing a vital role in taking the team to the final.
ICF Job and Financial Stability
Following his standout performances in the Yuva Kabaddi Series, Sudhakar secured a job at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, a government establishment that has employed several other current and former Pro Kabaddi League players, including Abhinesh Nadarajan, Sajin Chandrasekhar, D. Gopu and Suresh Kumar. Speaking about the job, Sudhakar said it left him feeling overwhelmed and gave him much needed financial stability, allowing him to focus solely on his sport. He noted that a kabaddi player can typically compete at his peak for only five to ten years, after which financial security becomes essential, making the job a crucial safety net alongside his playing career.
Pro Kabaddi League Debut and Career
Sudhakar’s performances in the Yuva Kabaddi Series caught the attention of Pro Kabaddi League scouts, and in October 2023, Patna Pirates signed him as a left raider under the New Young Player category for a contract worth 13 lakh rupees, ahead of Season 10 of the Pro Kabaddi League. He made his PKL debut in the team’s second match of the season, coming on as a substitute against Gujarat Giants, where he immediately impressed by scoring four raid points and two tackle points, contributing to Patna Pirates’ second consecutive win.
He went on to have an excellent debut PKL season in 2023-24, playing 19 matches for Patna Pirates and scoring around 103 to 105 raid points, including three Super 10 performances, a hugely impressive return for a first-year player that led fans and pundits to nickname him “Pardeep 2.0,” in reference to legendary former Patna Pirates raider Pardeep Narwal. Patna Pirates retained him for PKL Season 11 in 2024, where he was expected to take on a bigger leadership role in the raiding unit following the departure of experienced raider Sachin, playing alongside fellow young raider Sandeep Kumar. Patna Pirates finished as runners-up in Season 11, losing the final to Haryana Steelers. He continued with the franchise into PKL Season 12 in 2025, forming part of a raiding unit built around Ayan Lohchab, Maninder Singh and Milan Dahiya, with Patna Pirates finishing the season as the league’s highest scoring attacking team with 516 total raid points.
Playing Style
Sudhakar plays as a left raider and is known for his quick jumps, agile footwork and his signature “dubki” move, a low dodging technique used to slip beneath defenders’ hands during a raid. He has cited kabaddi icons Pardeep Narwal and Ajith Kumar as key inspirations behind his playing style and approach to the game.
Sudhakar (Kabaddi Player) Career Stats
Pro Kabaddi League Season-Wise Stats
| Season | Year | Team | Matches | Raid Points | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 10 | 2023-24 | Patna Pirates | 19 | Approximately 103 to 105 | 3 Super 10 performances; debut season |
| Season 11 | 2024 | Patna Pirates | Squad member | Not among team’s top scorers | Team finished runners-up |
| Season 12 | 2025 | Patna Pirates | 16 | 31 | 41% raid strike rate |
Note: Individual season-wise figures for Sudhakar M vary slightly across different statistics providers, and his Season 11 individual numbers are not as widely documented as his Season 10 and Season 12 figures. The table above reflects the most consistently reported data available.
Career Overview
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sudhakar Maruthamuthu |
| Playing Position | Left Raider |
| PKL Debut | Season 10, 2023-24, for Patna Pirates |
| PKL Signing Price (2023) | 13 lakh rupees, New Young Player category |
| Best PKL Season | Season 10 (debut season), around 103-105 raid points |
| Pre-PKL Highlight | Top raider at 2022 Yuva Kabaddi Series (Winter), 320 points for Palani Tuskers |
Achievements
Sudhakar M’s key achievements include finishing as the top raider at the Winter 2022 Yuva Kabaddi Series with 320 raid points, which earned him his Pro Kabaddi League contract, and delivering an outstanding debut PKL season in 2023-24 with over 100 raid points and three Super 10 performances, a feat that drew comparisons to legendary Patna Pirates raider Pardeep Narwal. He has also won and placed at numerous local and district-level tournaments across Tamil Nadu, and represented Bharathidasan University at the South Zone Inter-University Kabaddi Tournament.
Sudhakar Net Worth
Sudhakar M’s net worth is not officially disclosed, and no reliable estimate is widely reported. What is publicly known is his Pro Kabaddi League contract value, which was set at 13 lakh rupees when he signed with Patna Pirates under the New Young Player category ahead of Season 10, and he has continued to be retained by the franchise in subsequent seasons.
Sudhakar (Kabaddi Player) wife
Sudhakar M is reported to be unmarried and maintains a relatively humble, low profile lifestyle despite his growing recognition in Indian kabaddi. He is known to enjoy motorcycles as a hobby and owns a Yamaha YZF-R15. Coming from a modest farming background, he has often spoken about the sacrifices his family made to support his kabaddi journey, particularly given their limited financial means.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Sudhakar the kabaddi player?
Sudhakar M was born on March 18, 2002, which makes him around 24 years old as of 2026.
What is Sudhakar M’s height?
He stands at 6 feet 1 inch, or approximately 185 centimeters.
Which team does Sudhakar M play for?
He plays as a left raider for Patna Pirates in the Pro Kabaddi League, a team he has represented since Season 10 in 2023-24.
Who are Sudhakar M’s family members?
His father, Maruthamuthu, is a farmer, and he has four older brothers, all of whom also played kabaddi at the local level.
What was Sudhakar M’s PKL signing price?
Patna Pirates signed him for 13 lakh rupees under the New Young Player category ahead of Season 10 in 2023.
How many raid points did Sudhakar M score in his debut PKL season?
He scored approximately 103 to 105 raid points in 19 matches during his debut season, Season 10, in 2023-24.
Is Sudhakar M married?
No, based on all currently available information, he is unmarried.
Where is Sudhakar M from?
He is from Palayanallur village in Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) district, Tamil Nadu.
Does Sudhakar M have a job besides kabaddi?
Yes, he secured a job at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai following his standout performance at the 2022 Yuva Kabaddi Series, which gave him financial stability alongside his kabaddi career.
What is Sudhakar M’s signature move?
He is known for his quick jumps and his signature “dubki” move, a low dodging technique, drawing inspiration from kabaddi icons Pardeep Narwal and Ajith Kumar.
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