5 defensive specialists playing for the same team again in Pro Kabaddi League season 4

Defenders are as important to a team as raiders, when it comes to the game of Kabaddi. While the main duty of raiders is to raid their opponents’ den and score points, the sole mission of the defenders is to ensure opposition raiders are unsuccessful in their attempts, and use various maneuvers to stop the raiders.

The auction for Pro Kabaddi League season 4 saw many teams getting a new look as players were sold from one team to another. However, a few teams showed their faith and belief in defensive specialists, who will be donning the same jerseys as the previous seasons in the 4th season as well.

Just like Castrol Activ’s Actibonds help protect the engine and allow it to perform better continously, these defenders have helped their teams perform better with their dedicated and impeccable defense all these years.

Let us now take a look at 5 such defenders, who will be playing for the same teams as the previous seasons -

Rohit Rana (Jaipur Pink Panthers)

Rohit Rana is a selfless player whose defensive abilities make raiders think twice before taking him on. Rana had an amazing season 1, and was instantly recognizable on the court with his heavily bandaged face.

He had 38 tackle points in 15 matches to his name in season 1, and was one of the essential factors for Jaipur’s triumph in the inaugural season of PKL. Season 2 wasn’t so great for him, as he just had 15 tackle points from 10 matches.

Rana’s main weapon is the dash, and he is quite fast for his physique. One of his main fortes is the thigh hold, a move that has stopped many raiders from scoring points. Rana performs best when he plays with Ran Singh, another talented defender, and their partnership is one of the most formidable among all the eight franchises.

Ran Singh (Jaipur Pink Panthers)

Ran Singh is one of the most dependable players for Jaipur Pink Panthers, and has been a part of the team from the first season. Jaipur were unable to retain Singh ahead of PKL 4, but managed to re-sign him in order to maintain their core. Singh is an all-rounder, but is more of a defensive asset for the Panthers,

He is the leading defender for his side with 77 tackle points, and their rock in the defense. His experience and versatility makes him a valuable asset for the first champions of the league.

• He mainly relies on the body hold to stop raiders in their tracks, and also uses the dash as a secondary weapon at times. Ran Singh is one of the most feared defenders in PKL, and has 62 assists to his name.

Jeeva Kumar (U Mumba)

Jeeva Kumar is one of the strongmen of U Mumba, the most successful team in Pro Kabaddi League history, and the team has so much faith in the defender that they bought him back in the auction for a price of 40 lakhs, making him one of the expensive defenders in the league.

The powerful defender uses the dash and thigh hold to stop raiders dead in their tracks, and has the capability to stop any raider from scoring points.

Jeeva Kumar was a very important cog in the wheel for U Mumba in Season 3, and 29 assists last season, very high for a defender.

With other star defenders like Mohit Chillar, Surender Nada, Fazel Atrachali and Vishal Mane having left the team, Jeeva will be an essential part of Mumbai’s quest to dominate the league like before and become two time champions.

Ashish Kumar (Bengaluru Bulls)

Ashish Kumar is a young defender who was one of the bright spots for an otherwise lacklustre Bengaluru Bulls in Season 3. His performance in Season 3 led to the Bulls retaining him for Season 4. He guards the right cover position for his team, and had the most tackle points among defenders for his team last season.

Ashish Kumar uses his agility to his advantage, and his ankle hold is something that raiders are wary of. He is also good when it comes to retaining shape in defense, as that is how he scored 21% of his tackle points.

He is an indispensable asset for the Bulls, and would play a major role is their quest to become champions of Season 4.

• Nilesh Shinde (Bengal Warriors)

Nilesh Shinde is one of the most consistent and trustworthy defenders in the country, and uses an amalgamation of aggression and cool-headed thinking to stop raiders in their quest to score points, and can be a nightmare for them if they’re not too careful. Shinde has made the right corner his own and dominates the position like very few players.

He uses various types of holds to stop raiders, and has scored 56 tackle points using moves like ankle hold, thigh hold and back hold. Shinde usually goes for the raider’s leg, and is extremely agile on the court.

He has the most number of super tackles to his name (13) in the history of PKL. Shinde’s name comes in the list of top 10 defenders of PKL, and he will be taking care of the defence of Bengal Warriors, along with newly signed star defender Vishal Mane.

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