The 2016 Kabaddi World Cup is just over a week away from its start and India is preparing in full flow. A host of Pro Kabaddi League stars have been selected to represent the country, including both youngsters and experienced players. As October 7th inches closer, Sportskeeda looks at the 5 players who will play a crucial role if India are to retain the World Cup this year. With teams like Iran andSouth Korea entering the fray as credible competitors, India will need to be at their very best throughout the 15-day tournament.
India will enter the competition as firm favourites for a reason. If history is to go by, India will be expected to unleash carnage in Ahmedabad. Having won the previous 2 World Cups in 2004 and 2007 in convincing fashion, a lot is expected from this stellar Indian side.
Pardeep Narwal - arguably, India’s most in form raider, Pardeep comes into the World Cup having won the Pro Kabaddi league with Patna Pirates just weeks back. He’ll be hoping to carry his mammoth momentum forward. The 19-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down and will be extremely hard to keep in check.
Versatility during his raids is what earned Narwal 100 points in the recently concluded Pro Kabaddi league. Over these he doesn’t past few seasons, he’s matured and realized he doesn’t need to go for the kill every time he attempts a raid. He plays the game with no fear and it’s paid handsome dividends.
Rahul Chaudhari – Indian Kabaddi’s poster boy will form a potent raiding duo alongside Pardeep. He finished the Pro Kabaddi season as the highest scorer with 110 points to his name. The 23-year-old has improved his fitness by leaps and bounds. It’s helped him to be persistent during his raids and not give his opponents any room to breathe.
Every time he steps into the opposition half, he always does so with intentions of picking up a point at minimum. Chaudhari’s relentless approach will ensure India’s scorecard keeps ticking during the good as well as tough moments. Expect the man who eats Gulab Jamun for recovery, to run riot.
Anup Kumar - The Indian captain has a rich array of talent at his disposal. As a result, he will in no way carry the burden of raiding responsibilities. But one area where he will shine is in the leadership role. Almost every single Indian player will come into the World Cup on the back of some stupendous performances for their respective clubs.
Every player will be itching to showcase their skills on full throttle. But Anup would be wise enough to realize his side cannot play all their cards in on move. The 32-year-old commands respect and will ensure all the players maintain a cool head on their shoulders at all times.
Mohit Chillar - With so much attacking talent in the squad, the right corner defender will provide a much needed cushion to this ultra-attacking Indian side. Still only 23, Mohit has time and again showed why he is arguably the best defender in the country. Positioned to the extreme right, his ability to sense an opportunity is second to none.
The man from Delhi rarely plays the waiting game. His proactive approach has won him numerous plaudits over the past couple of years. Whenever India defends, Mohit will be expected to guide the back line. He’ll be playing in his very first World Cup and will be keen to show the world what he’s made of.
Sandeep Narwal - The livewire of this Indian squad, Sandeep will play a vital role in both attack and defence. While he’s known to be an all-rounder, over the last one year, he seems to have worked considerably on his defending skills. On numerous occasions, the 23-year-old was leading the backline for the Telugu Titans in the recent Pro Kabaddi season.
Never to shy away from an opportunity, Sandeep is equally at ease when asked to raid. This will be crucial as captain, Anup will look to introduce a sense of surprise every now and then. He’ll occupy the cover position on the mat- a position where one has to be extremely swift to avoid hand touches.
