We’re all set for the fifth season of the Pro Kabaddi League. At this point, there’s no reason why a Kabaddi player would want to be a cricketer. The PKL has all the ingredients to be a global powerhouse.
Maybe it would have been the case three years back but not anymore. But spotting similarities between cricketers and kabaddi players isn’t rocket science. There are certain qualities and pre-requisites that players from both sports always possess.
This could range from their personality, their decision-making skills, their area of expertise and a host of other attributes. That being said, let’s take a look at 5 kabaddi players and their cricketer equivalents.
#1 Anup Kumar – MS Dhoni
Here are two supremely talented players who at any point in a match, will not get flustered come what may. Their ability to maintain calm under pressure situations is a priceless quality that even the best in the game crave for.
Unlike the manner in which people expect captains to behave, both of them keep their communication to the minimum. In doing so, Dhoni and Anup give their team-mates the right amount of freedom for them to operate within.
Veterans of the game, both of them realize that an overbearing approach as a captain will do more harm than good. This is not to say they aren’t hands on. Anup And Dhoni know exactly where the game is heading towards. They are masters at envisioning possible future situations which may arise during the match and act accordingly.
#2 Manjeet Chhillar – Virat Kohli
When it comes to kabaddi and cricket, there aren’t many athletes who are more compelling to watch than these two. Manjeet and Virat are two players who show absolutely no remorse when playing the game.
In an era where diplomacy is the name of the game, the both of them never hesitate to express their feelings openly. At times, Kohli and Chhillar may come across as overzealous in their approach but they thrive under this method. It may seem as if they’re on edge, nevertheless on most occasions, they’re in firm control of their destiny.
At any point, if you had to pick an All-Star team, you’d select the both of them in the blink of an eye. The statistics speak for themselves. The numbers don’t lie.
#3 Rahul Chaudhari – AB de Villiers
Arguably the two most versatile athletes on the planet in their respective fields – AB and Rahul are two birds made from the same feather who flock together. They’re both at the top of their game and have been so for a long time now. At any point during the game, Chaudhari and De Villiers can take the match by the scruff of its neck and make it their own.
More importantly, they play the game with a smile on their face. If there are two players who can single handedly dominate the match – it’s these two. Personality, skill, the ability to think on their feet and execute moves to perfection – at times it’s mindboggling to witness what ensues when they thrust their foot on the pedal.
No player wishes to be at the receiving end when that happens.
#4 Deepak Niwas Hooda – Rahul Dravid
Picture this – there’s a red-carpet awards night ceremony taking place at a 5-star hotel. There’s only one place where you’d probably find these two players– at the extreme corner of the room, sipping their tea ever so calmly. When they take to the field, two completely different personalities emerge.
Humble players they may be but Deepak and Dravid hate to lose. Which is why they transform into efficient and relentless machines on the field. Both players possess a certain attentiveness that’s rarely found among their colleagues.
You could find umpteen reasons why Dravid and Hooda didn’t perform to their potential on one of those rare off days but lack of concentration is one reason that you can never pin on them. During his prime, Dravid was an irreplaceable member of his squad. Hooda has already begun to replicate his senior’s exploits.
#5 Mohit Chhillar – Jasprit Bumrah
Chhillar and Bumrah must be wondering what more can they do? Despite their amazing performances over the past few seasons, both players have been at the receiving end of critics. Is it a case of unreasonable expectations or simply being blind to the facts? It’s probably the former.
Bumrah is right now the second best T20 bowler in the world. Mohit was season 4’s third best raider and among the select few who successfully executed 3 or more tackles per match. It’s hard to fathom why they aren’t considered the cream of the crop?
As a bowler and defender, one could argue their roles aren’t as attractive as the batsmen or raiders. But the sight of Bumrah delivering a toe-crushing yorker or Chhillar timing his ankle hold to perfection never ceases to amaze.
Also Read: Pro Kabaddi League 2017 Season 5: Where are India's World Cup winning stars now?
