The Pro Kabaddi League is around the corner and it will be the first year which will see two seasons held in the same year. The excitement has reached fever pitch as teams were reshuffled post the third season of the league in the auctions. The fourth season promises lots of new stars and more breathtaking action. With not even two weeks left for the event, the time is perfect to take a look at 5 raiders who can light up the league with their performances
Here are the 5 raiders to look out for in the 4th edition of the tournament.
1. Anup Kumar
U Mumba has been the most consistent team in Pro Kabaddi League and why won’t they be when they have the most prolific raider leading them in the form of Anup Kumar. A sub-inspector with the Haryana Police posted at Rewari, Anup Kumar is one of the major reasons behind U Mumba’s spectacular feat of featuring in all the three finals of Pro Kabaddi League. While his calm and composed captaincy has attracted all the plaudits, his raids haven’t gone unnoticed for sure.
The 32-year-old has made 247 successful raids in the 42 matches and has rarely disappointed when the team looked up to him for some inspiration. A traditional raider who relies more on touch points, Anup was team’s most successful raider in the first two seasons of PKL. Apart from his exploits in the Pro Kabaddi League, Kumar is also a two-time Asian Games medalist and an Arjuna Awardee and easily the most decorated of the raiders and captains playing in Pro Kabaddi League’s 4th season.
2. Rahul Chaudhari
Rahul Chaudhari shone brightly in Telugu Titans’ second season and looked all set to take the team to the PKL title when they lost in the semi final to finish the season in third position. His captaincy issues aside, the young raider has completed 275 successful raids in 41 matches played and has proven himself to be a real threat for the opposition.
The raider also has 94 tackles to his name. Just 23 years of age, the boy from Bijnore is already a raider who can get the best of defences nervous. Rahul has matured massively in the three seasons and has made a name for him for not coming back with empty raids. His kicks and his looks have made him popular both on and off the mat.
3. Pardeep Narwal
19-year-old Pardeep Narwal wowed everyone with his aggressive play and his immaculate ‘dubkis’ in the season third of the Pro Kabaddi League. He, along with Rohit Kumar, produced one scintillating performance after another in the third season to guide his team Patna Pirates to their first ever Pro Kabaddi League triumph.
Narwal, who hails from Sonepat, amassed 24 points against the Telugu Titans to equal Kashiling Adake's record of most points scored by a player in a single match. It tells something about the talent of Pardeep Narwal that his franchise decided to retain him over the ever dependable Sandeep Narwal in the auctions ahead of the fourth season.
4. Kashiling Adake
Just like U Mumba, Dabang Delhi is one team that has been fairly consistent but in turning in disappointing performances for its fans. After finishing 6th in the first season, the team slipped to 7th in the second and went further down to 8th last season. However, Kashiling Adake has been the silver lining to all their dismal campaigns. The innocuous looking Adake from Maharashtra is a dangerous proposition when on the mat and scored more than 100 raid points in the first two seasons apart from making the record of most points scored in a match his own.
The 32-year-old has all the moves in his repertoire. From scoring off running hand touches to deft back kicks to those flawless dives, Adake has shown that he is a complete raider. In 39 matches played, Kashi has 235 successful raids and 302 raid points. It comes as no surprise that Adake has been retained by Dabang Delhi and will be leading a much stronger Delhi unit this season.
5. Rishank Devadiga
U Mumba’s fortunes have rested mainly on the shoulders of its captain Anup Kumar and raider Rishank Devadiga and the team’s consistent performance over the three seasons testify Devadiga’s performances. In his three years with U Mumba, Devadiga has turned himself a do or die raid specialist and won them the only final in the Pro Kabaddi League in 2015.
In the second season, he even outshone his maverick skipper Anup Kumar. 106 points from 86 successful raids won Rishank the ‘Raider of the Tournament’ award in the third season and he would look forward to continuing with his good form in the fourth season as well.
