'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#1 Nitesh Kumar - U.P. Yoddha
To lead a side full of talented players is a very tough job, and the team needs an experienced player to plan the strategies. However, the team management of U.P. Yoddha have taken the opposite route and have named 22-year-old right corner defender Nitesh Kumar as their new skipper.
With the likes of Rishank Devadiga, Monu Goyat and Shrikant Jadhav in the squad, the decision to assign the captaincy to Nitesh has raised a few eyebrows but it seems like the Lucknow-based franchise has rewarded the youngster for his consistency in season 6.
Playing only his second season in the Pro Kabaddi League, Nitesh became the first ever defender to cross the 100-tackle points milestone in a single edition of the league. Nitesh scored eight High 5s to guarantee U.P. Yoddha a place in the season play-offs.
Though Nitesh is young, one cannot deny the fact that he has an extraordinary amount of maturity on the mat. With the added burden of captaincy on his shoulders, it will be intriguing to see if he can maintain his individual records in the defense department.
