Kabaddi Masters Dubai 2018, India vs Kenya: 5 players the men in blue need to watch out for

Indian players in action against Pakistan on Day 1 of Kabaddi Masters 2018
Indian players in action against Pakistan on Day 1 of Kabaddi Masters 2018

As Kabaddi Masters Dubai enters its second day, India will be looking for another victory. A sublime performance by the Indian players on the first day earned them a comprehensive victory against Pakistan at the premier kabaddi tournament. These matches will do India a lot of good in the run-up to the 2018 Asian Games which are scheduled to start on 18th August in Jakarta.

The champion team, which features superstar players, will now be going up against Kenya, who are presently ranked 6th in the World. Ajay Thakur has taken up his role of captain well and was just phenomenal on the mat against Pakistan, picking up 10 points alone in India's 36-20 victory. Filling in the shoes of veteran skipper Anup Kumar would have been an uphill task but Ajay has shown his true potential by stepping up to the challenge and performing well under immense pressure.

The biggest shocker of the first day for India was their star raider Pardeep Narwal, who could not manage to pick up any raid points. He was substituted for the talented Haryana-born raider Rohit Kumar. The flamboyant raider showed some blistering speed and scored 7 points for the team, becoming one of the standout performers. Another surprise of the first day was that the most expensive player of the recently concluded Pro Kabaddi League auction - Monu Goyat - did not get a start because of the depth in the squad.

Rahul Chaudhari also got going in the game towards the middle but was kept quiet by Pakistan for the majority of the game. Meanwhile, Surender Nada, and Surjeet Singh were rock-solid in defense and showcased brilliant ankle holds with blistering speed.

Rahul Chaudhari and Pardeep Narwal will be looking to up their game against Kenya. There is absolutely no doubt of their ability, and maybe it was just an off-day for them. Meanwhile, Monu Goyat too will be hoping to get the opportunity to showcase his talent and justify that it is not by luck that he was picked up for Rs. 151 lakhs in PKL actions.

India will be looking to test their bench strength against a marginally weaker Kenya (when compared to Pakistan). However, the best team in the World will not be taking this challenge likely and look to be in a commanding position in Group A.

India is undoubtedly one of the most feared Kabaddi teams in the tournament. No wonder the World No. 1's have gone on to win the gold medal at every Asian Games since 1990. The addition of the Pro Kabaddi League has given players extra exposure, taking the level of the sport up by a notch.

The Kenyan team is relatively new to the world of Kabaddi, however, this fact can act in their favour. The naturally quick team does have the potential and the firepower to pull off huge upsets. They will be looking to do the same against India, which makes it all the more important to see which players India must keep a keen eye on.

RAIDER:

#1 Isaac Njoroge Ikigu

L - Kenyan players in action, R - Isaac Njoroge Ikigu
L - Kenyan players in action, R - Isaac Njoroge
Ikigu

Isaac is only 18-years-old and may just prove to be the surprise package in the Kenyan team. Young blood is running through his veins and he has proven to be a potent player time and again. Despite David Mosambayi and Patrick Nzau Muvai being the stars of the team, he too possesses the knack of picking up raid points at will.

Going up against the strongest defenders in the world will be an exciting challenge for him and he will be looking to make the most of it. The competent raider is equally potent in guarding the left corner.

Follow LIVE updates of the India vs Kenya match here.

ALL-ROUNDERS

#2 David Mosambayi

David Mosambayi has been a part of PKL
David Mosambayi has been a part of PKL

Many will be familiar with this name due to his exploits at the Pro Kabaddi League. The Kenyan skipper was picked up by the Jaipur Pink Panthers for ₹10.2 lakh. The player is famous for his versatility and swiftness on the mat. He can get a raid point in the blink of an eye and is always keen on helping out in the defense as well. The self-made player has learned all the skills of the trade through YouTube and is a natural talent. His potential as a captain has also not gone unnoticed, as he led his team to 5th place at World Cup, which took place in Ahmedabad in 2016.

The 23-year-old has his birthday coming up on June 26, and strong performances at the Kabaddi Masters is what he will be looking to gift himself. He was the standout performer for Kenya at the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup raking up 46 points in total.

A very intelligent player with a strong built, he will prove to be one of the biggest threats for India.

#3 Patrick Nzau Muvai

Another lethal all-rounder who is expected to cause major problems for Indian defenders. The 22-year-old confesses to enjoying raiding more than defending. He has developed a great understanding of the game. In a recent interaction with Sportskeeda, he also mentioned that India has in a way helped in the rise of Kabaddi in Kenya in a very big way.

After being all praise, he now has to focus on the task at hand and his sole purpose at the present moment would be to take India down. He gels really well with David Mosambayi and also looks up to him as a mentor. The skillful player was also picked up by the Haryana Steelers at the recent auctions of PKL. A huge fan of Pardeep Narwal, Muvai will need to shed his fanboy thoughts as he might just be up against the star raider in the upcoming match.

Follow LIVE updates of the India vs Kenya match here.

DEFENDERS

#4 Victor Obiero and #5 James Obilo

Kenya team in action
Kenyan players know how to have fun while playing

Victor is one of the most capable defenders in the Kenyan team. His exploits on the mat are not unknown, and he will be looking to give Srinivas Reddy's men a run for their money. One never knows when this super-defender comes up with an unbreakable ankle hold.

Meanwhile, James Obilo brings experience to the team. Another versatile player of the Kenyan team who will look to keep the men in blue under check. A lot of practice has enabled the Kenyan player to bond well with the rest of the players.

Lethal Indian raiders would not be wary of these players but they can also not be taken lightly.

The action is set to begin at the Al Wasl Sports Club in Dubai at 9:00 PM IST.


Who do you think will emerge on top in India vs Kenya? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Edited by Abhishek Arora