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The first week of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League has lived up to its hype and served the spectators with some absolute crackers. Visakhapatnam and Bengaluru were gripped by the Kabaddi fever as the opening week of the Pro Kabaddi League concluded in grand style.The Patna Pirates emerged the team to beat in the first week as they won all their three games, that included a win over defending champions U Mumba. While the raiders dominated the proceedings once again, there were stand-out defensive performances which also caught the eye during the first week.It is only with the protection offered by the defenders that the raiders’ efforts are truly rewarded, just like how the continous protection offered by Castrol Activ’s Actibonds helps protect the engine when it is off.We take a look at the top five defenders from the first week of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi.
#1 Sandeep Narwal (Patna Pirates)
He has been leading from the front and has helped Patna Pirates form a potent defensive unit. Leading from the front, Sandeep Narwal managed to rack up 13 tackle points in the opening week.
Moreover, Narwal has been consistent in his endeavours and has picked up a minimum of four tackle points in each of the three games.
#2 Dharmaraj Cheralathan (Telugu Titans)
The veteran Telugu Titans defender has been doing extremely well in the Telugu Titans defence and that has helped his side win three out of their five games. His 16 tackle points in five matches were instrumental in Telugu Titans being top of the charts after the first week.
The defence was Telugu Titans’ Achilles heel last season and Cheralathan’s arrival has certainly helped the Vishakhaptnam outfit address that problem to a certain extent. The forty-two-year old is going strong and still one of the best defenders in the league.
#3 Girish Ernak (Bengal Warriors)
Signed from the Patna Pirates, Girish Maruti Ernak is proving to be a decisive signing for the Bengal Warriors. The Warriors who struggled for large parts of last season, have made a winning start to Season Three, having won both of their opening encounters.
With 9 tackle points in those matches, Girish Ernak had the best tackle per match ratio in the first week of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi. After a good showing last season, Ernak is starting to come of age this season and is giving some of the best defenders in the league a run for their money.
#4 Manjeet Chhillar (Puneri Paltan)
Manjeet Chhillar once again has been excellent, but this time in a Puneri Paltan shirt. The Paltan won one and lost one, but Manjeet Chhillar was excellent with 8 tackle points from the two games and is second only to Girish Ernak in terms of the tackle per match ratio.
The Puneri Paltan controversially lost the first game, which left Manjeet Chhillar fuming as his side’s good show failed to transform into a win.
#5 Mohit Chhillar (U Mumba)
U Mumba have blown hot and cold this season with two wins and two losses in the first week of the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League. But Mohit Chhillar has turned up and performed well in almost all games this season.
With twelve tackle points, Chhillar was the pick of the U Mumba defenders who have failed to reproduce cohesive performances consistently. But, Mohit Chhillar has been on top of his game, helping them stay in touch with the top of the Pro Kabaddi League table.
