Devank opened up about the value of his massive bid and the responsibilities that come with it. \"Last season, I finished as the best raider. I thought the bid could go this far, but I didn\u2019t believe it would actually go this high. I was very happy when it did - it feels great to be valued this way,\" he said in an exclusive conversation on JioHotstar special \u2018Kings of Kabaddi\u2019.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"This year, I have more responsibilities. Now that I\u2019ve joined this team, I will give 110% for Bengal Warriorz,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bengal Warriorz head coach, Naveen Kumar, stood firm in his belief that Devank is worth every bit of the investment. \"We needed a star raider in our team, someone who can lead from the front. He was the best player in the last season of PKL, and that\u2019s why he has such a big value. He deserves it. He has so much capacity - he can score raid points at will and even win games single-handedly. Devank has immense potential, and I\u2019m confident he will prove it this season,\" Naveen said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Taking over from long-time Warriorz stalwart Maninder Singh, Devank knows the size of the shoes he has to fill. \"I have full faith in my abilities. I will give everything to match what Maninder has done for this team and carry forward his legacy. My aim is to make the team believe in me.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Devank's journey has been anything but easy. Recalling his early struggles, he spoke about perseverance and patience. \"In Season 9, I joined NYP in Jaipur. At that time, I just wanted to play and prove myself. But there were many senior players, and I didn\u2019t get much of a chance. So, I just kept practising and working hard. Over time, my game improved a lot, and I started believing that I could achieve something. Last year, when Patna Pirates gave me an opportunity, I grabbed it and proved myself.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
That self-belief soared after his breakthrough game against Tamil Thalaivas. \"That match (last season) against Tamil Thalaivas was very important for me -- I scored 25 raid points. It gave me motivation and belief. After that, I found my rhythm. I started aiming to score Super 10s in every game, and it kept happening. The team kept rising, and my name started growing as well. From Jaipur to Patna, and now from Patna to Bengal - it has been an incredible journey. Sometimes I still can\u2019t believe it, but I did it, and it feels really good.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Devank's journey has been anything but easy. Recalling his early struggles, he spoke about perseverance and patience. \"In Season 9, I joined NYP in Jaipur. At that time, I just wanted to play and prove myself. But there were many senior players, and I didn\u2019t get much of a chance. So, I just kept practising and working hard. Over time, my game improved a lot, and I started believing that I could achieve something. Last year, when Patna Pirates gave me an opportunity, I grabbed it and proved myself.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But despite the price tag and expectations, Dalal insists he won\u2019t let pressure get to him. \"There is no pressure on me. My focus is only on improving on last year\u2019s performance. My job is to play and give my best. If I do that, results will follow.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n