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The first season of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi was a grand success. Everyone was suddenly interested in this age old ancient sport which was born and developed in India. Millions of fans tuned in to watch the teams on TV, and thousands came to watch their favourite team play in the stadiums.Many players shone in the inaugural season of the tournament and everybody put up their claim for a spot in the best team of the season.Here is our best 7 of the first season:
#1 Rahul Chaudhari - Telugu Titans
At a tender age of 23, Rahul Chaudhari stole the show in the first season of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi, narrowly missing out on the top spot in the best raiders list behind Anup Kumar. He amassed 151 points for Telugu Titans and makes the Centre spot his own in the dream team.
He particularly shone in a match against U Mumba, when he got 23 points in raids, while carrying the Titans to yet another win scoring 14 points against Bengal Warriors. He made a total of 224 raids where he returned unsuccessfully on only 36 occasions.
#2 Nitin Madane - Bengal Warriors
Bengal Warriors’ Nitin Madane slots in the dream team at Right In. Despite the team having a forgettable season, this 27-year-old from Maharashtra shone through despite playing just 12 matches, where he scored 101 points.
His impact in the inaugural season of the tournament can be felt by the fact that he pipped Indian national team’s captain Rakesh Kumar to a spot in the team. Deepak Hudda of Telugu Titans was another contender for the position, but Madane’s dexterity makes him an obvious choice in the role.
#3 Prashant Chavan - Jaipur Pink Panthers
The Star Sports Pro Kabaddi season 1 winning team’s Right Corner Prashant Chavan shades Bengal Warriors’ Nilesh Shinde to make the dream team. The defender from Maharashtra scored 33 points in a flawless season for Jaipur Pink Panthers.
He came to the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League having starred for his state, winning the Gold medal in nationals in 2008. He represented his local club, Air India admirably and was even selected for the Indian national kabaddi team camp in 2011.
#4 Jasmer Gulia - Dabang Delhi
Jasmer Gulia was one of the few shining lights for Dabang Delhi, who had a tournament to forget in the inaugural edition of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi. In the 14 matches he played in the first season, he gathered 39 valuable points over the course of the league. He would be our choice to defend at Right Cover.
Jasmer is a fierce fighter, who terrifies the opposition raider and seldom lets him return. A true champion, his sparkling resume boosts of a gold medal in South Asian Games 2006, Asian Games 2010 and more recently, a winners medal at both the National and the India Police Games, 2015.
#5 Anup Kumar - U Mumba
This team would be incomplete without the wily raider from U Mumba – Anup Kumar, who fits in at Left In. The 32-year-old was awarded the Most Valuable Player trophy at the end of the season having scored a massive 153 points in 16 matches for the Mumbai-based team. Mumbai had bought him for Rs. 10.8 lakhs in the auction and the Indian international did not disappoint.
He has been part of the Indian national kabaddi team in 2006 and has amassed a plethora of trophies. He is one of the few players to have been conferred with the Arjuna Award. Hailing from a small town, Palra, in Gurgaon district, Anup doubles up as a police officer with the Haryana Police when he isn’t playing.
#6 Manjeet Chhillar - Bengaluru Bulls
The Bengaluru Bulls captain Manjeet Chhillar comes in at Left Cover in the dream team from the first season. The 5’ 8” tall man from Nizampur cemented his place as the cornerstone of Bulls’ defence. He scored 51 tackle points to pip Rohit Rana of Jaipur Pink Panthers in the team of the season.
Being an all-rounder, the 29-year-old has also ably deputed as a raider for the Bulls and brought his experience from the Indian national side to Star Sports Pro Kabaddi. He is a two-time Asian Games gold medallist, being a part of the 2010 and the 2014 victorious Indian squad.
#7 Surender Nada - U Mumba
U Mumba’s Surender Nada takes the final spot in the team at Left Corner. The 25-year-old appeared in 16 matches in the first season of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi and beat star players like Jaipur Pink Panthers captain Navneet Gautam and Bengaluru Bulls’ star defender Dharmaraj Cheralathan.
He accrued 44 tackle points in the league and helped his side reach the finals of the tournament. He was the second best defender in the inaugural season behind Manjeet Chhillar. His ankle hold still strikes fear in the attackers’ minds and if last season is anything to go by, Mumbai will be rock solid at the back.
