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In the sport of kabaddi, a team's campaign depends on two main factors - the raiding unit and the defensive unit. However, in the history of the PKL, there have been some special players in the sport's history have had their hand in both departments. These players have provided the right amount of balance to the team and have earned a status as one of the leading all-rounders from the competition because of their ability to tackle and earn raiding points as well when required.
A plethora of all-rounders have established themselves as Pro Kabaddi legends. Players like Manjeet Chhillar, Ran Singh, Rajesh Narwal, Deepak Niwas Hooda and Rakesh Kumar are some of the best examples of a quality all-rounder.
Ahead of the seventh edition of PKL, the auctions saw the teams splurge heavy on the services of all-rounders and a number of experienced stars will be in focus as the season commences on 20th July. All the teams have eyes on the best all-rounders
Here are five all-rounders to watch out for from Pro Kabaddi League 2019.
#5 Mohammad Esmaeil Nabibakhsh - Bengal Warriors
Bengal Warriors grabbed the headlines by signing the Iranian all-rounder player Mohammad Esmaeil Nabibakhsh in the auction for a whopping amount of ₹ 77.75 lakh. Nabibakhsh, who will be making his debut in the upcoming season of PKL, was the costliest purchase of Bengal Warriors in the season seven auction. There is no doubt that this season is packed with skilled all-rounders.
The Kolkata-based franchise now have two absolute beasts in their squad as Esmaeil will join forces with Maninder Singh in PKL 2019. Nabibakhsh played a crucial role in his team’s journey to the final of Kabaddi Masters, 2018 and will hold the key for the Warriors.
#4 Vijay Malik - Dabang Delhi K.C.
From earning a contract as an NYP in season 5 to his services being bought for a price of ₹41 lakhs in the PKL 7 auction, all-rounder Vijay Malik has come a long way. The youngster kicked off his PKL career as a part of Patna Pirates in season 5. His team won the championship that year and Vijay played a key role in crunch situations.
Subbed in for the Do or Die situations, Vijay executed three super tackles and one super raid for Patna, which saw him carve a path to earn 64 points in his debut season. His numbers improved next year but the three-time defending champions crashed out of Zone B.
This might have forced the team management to change their strategy hence, they released Vijay ahead of the auction. Fully knowing his credentials in the league, Dabang Delhi K.C. snapped up this young talent in the player auction and it will be intriguing to see if Vijay maintains his fine PKL record in season seven.
#3 Deepak Niwas Hooda - Jaipur Pink Panthers
2016 Kabaddi World Cup winner, Deepak Niwas Hooda has set new benchmarks for an all-rounder in the sport of kabaddi. Hooda is a consistent player who has been a part of the Pro Kabaddi League ever since its inception and has scored 785 points in 103 matches. He has showcased his raiding talent by securing 710 raid points at an average of 6.89 raid points per game.
Even in the defense department, Hooda has contributed for his team with timely tackles. Though Hooda’s tackle points are less than 100, the all-rounder can contribute with his ability to tackle when required for the team. His four High 5s and six Super Tackles show that Deepak can be as consistent as a regular defender but he focuses more on his raiding abilities.
#2 Manjeet Chhillar - Tamil Thalaivas
The winner of the 'best defender' award from the inaugural season and the MVP from PKL 2, Manjeet Chhillar is a veteran of the league. While fitness has been a major concern for this all-rounder, he has shown that he can step up and deliver the goods whenever his team needs his to perform.
For the upcoming season, with the Tamil Thalaivas boasting of a well-rounded side, including the likes of Ajay Thakur, Rahul Chaudhari and Mohit Chhillar, Manjeet could be expected to lead the defensive unit.
From 93 matches, Manjeet has a total of 522 points, including 220 raid points and 302 tackle points. The most successful defender in the league, Manjeet will undoubtedly hold the 'X-factor' for the Thalaivas on the defensive front. Manjeet Chillar has proven to be deadly as a raider and as a defender as well.
#1 Sandeep Narwal - U Mumba
Sandeep Narwal, one of the most successful all-rounders in the league has taken a backseat when it comes to the raiding front but could be pipped to assume a lot more of raiding duties with U Mumba, with the raiding unit looking relatively experienced this season.
The burly all-rounder certainly does have raiding capabilities, having picked up 229 raid points from 101 matches, including 11 Super 10s. On the defensive front, Narwal is one of the best corner defenders, having registered 254 tackle points, including 23 super tackles.
U Mumba have a strong defense unit with the likes of Fazel Atrachali, Surender Singh Rajguru Subramanium and Young Chang Ko set to bolster the squad. Narwal’s presence will be an added bonus for the defense, however, his raiding performance will decide how far U Mumba reach in the seventh edition of Pro Kabaddi League.
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